29th Week in Ordinary Time : Monday 23rd October 2023

Someone in the crowd asks Jesus to be the arbitrator over the distribution of their family fortunes. Jesus declines but tells the people to guard themselves against greed over worldly things.

The evangelist Luke adds a parable where Jesus warns that a person who is ‘not rich toward God’ but lives to accumulate and enjoy wealth — relax, eat, drink and be merry — will only die with nothing permanent before God.

We have noticed that Luke uses the harshest words towards the rich. For example, in his version of the Beatitudes, Jesus not only pronounces a blessing on the poor (Luke 4: 20), but he also pronounces curses on the rich (4: 24-25).

In fact, Luke is preaching to, not against, the rich. He is telling them that wealth has a moral dimension and they must lead a Godly living and make an effort to make their wealth ‘true riches’ in the sight of God.

Luke is telling the rich that they can truly follow Jesus. He is helping them understand that how they manage their money has everything to do with discipleship.

So, no matter how good, how beautiful a state of affairs could be here below, it is destined to pass into another sphere of life. Indeed, that beautiful, attractive, young, full of life, creative, joyful person will eventually age, get sick, break down, and die.

Lord Jesus, I pray for spiritual poverty that I may follow You more closely. Amen!