{"id":2927,"date":"2019-08-04T12:13:59","date_gmt":"2019-08-04T16:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=2927"},"modified":"2019-08-04T12:13:59","modified_gmt":"2019-08-04T16:13:59","slug":"18th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c-homily-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/18th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c-homily-2\/","title":{"rendered":"18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

18<\/a>th<\/a><\/sup> Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C<\/a>
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23
Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 (95:8)
Colossians 3:1-5, 9, 11
Luke 12:13-21
August 4, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hear that \u201csomeone <\/em><\/strong>in the crowd said to Jesus, \u201cTeacher, tell<\/strong> my brother to share the inheritance<\/strong> with me.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are not told the person\u2019s\nname.  The person is only identified as \u201csomeone<\/em>.\u201d  We have no idea who it is.  Many people who come to Jesus are never\nidentified by name but they are generally identified as disciples or as a\nPharisee or other title.  In this case,\nthe person is only identified as \u201csomeone.\u201d \nThey may not even have been a believer. \n\u201cSomeone<\/em>\u201d could be us.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at the words of the person,\nnote that they are not in the form of a request.  It\u2019s worded in the form of an order.  Do you tell Jesus what to do?  Are you this \u201csomeone<\/em>\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is their request about?  Apparently, a person has died and the\nspeaker\u2019s brother is keeping the inheritance to themselves.  Sadly, even today, I hear and have seen\nfamilies break apart over inheritance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do people fight over\n\u201cinheritance\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it can involve sentimental\nreasons.  Maybe there was that special\nplatter mom used to serve food at all the family gatherings.  In monetary terms the platter may not be\nworth much but it comes with memories that are priceless.  Yet, fighting with family over it would seem\nto miss the value of the memories of the family gatherings where it was used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More often, divisions over inheritance are because of greed<\/a>.  It might be over money itself or it might be over possessions that have significant monetary value.  If it\u2019s about monetary or monetary value it can involve \u201cgreed<\/a>\u201d and that\u2019s one of the seven deadly sins<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to note that it\u2019s not always about \u201cgreed<\/a>.\u201d  Sometimes, we just want our fair share.  Sometimes, there\u2019s someone in the family who has lost a job and could really use the money.  That\u2019s need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s not what Jesus is talking about when He says, \u201cto guard against all greed<\/a><\/em>\u201d and \u201cone\u2019s life does not consist of possessions.<\/em>\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we need it, <\/em><\/strong>it\u2019s not greed<\/a>.  The question is how much do we need compared to what we want.  Even then, are we just seeking a little enjoyment or are our wants extravagant?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help us realize that life is not\nabout possessions Jesus offers the parable about this \u201crich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.<\/em>\u201d  The harvest is so great that it won\u2019t fit in\nhis barns.  We assume his barns are\nalready designed to be big enough to hold as much as he needs.  He has plenty, even for times when the harvest\nmight not be so good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what does he do?  Does he show generous by sharing the harvest\nwith others who don\u2019t have so much?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No. \nHe is determined to keep it for himself. \nSo, he decides to tear down the barns and \u201cbuild larger ones<\/em>.\u201d  One\nmight suppose, he is storing up for the future. \nIn this sense, we talk about retirement planning and\/or saving for one\u2019s\nchildren\u2019s college fund.  These are smart\nthings to do but how much do you really need to save?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, why build up more than you\nneed?  Ecclesiastes speaks of the person\nwho labors greatly to build up wealth only to leave it to a stranger.  As Ecclesiastes says, \u201cFor what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart\nwith which he has labored under the sun.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do some people want so much?  Is it greed<\/a>?  Again, that\u2019s one of the seven deadly sins<\/a>.  Maybe it is to make ourselves look good.  That\u2019s \u201cpride<\/a>\u201d, another of the seven deadly sins<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The next two paragraphs were added Sunday morning following shootings in Texas and Ohio Saturday)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If greed and\/or pride out are what motivate us, then our desires are selfish.\u00a0 Yesterday morning there was a shooting in El Paso, Texas at a Walmart with at least 20 dead and several more injured.\u00a0 Last night there was a shooting in Ohio with at least nine dead with more injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are just beginning the\ninvestigations so we don\u2019t know motives yet. \nSo, I can\u2019t sure what we could do to have stopped these particular\nshootings.  I wish I had the answers to\nstop shootings in general.  I don\u2019t have\nspecific answers but I can\u2019t help but think that if we turn away from selfish\ndesires, from greed and pride, and be concerned for others, things could get\nbetter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are we to do?\u00a0 Paul calls us to \u201cseek what is above\u2026Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 Does this mean we can completely forget about earthly things?\u00a0 No, the reality is that we need food and a place to life.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The point is that the possessions\nshould not be the focal point of our lives. \nHow many people work hard, thinking if they get one more promotion, one\nmore pay raise, that they will have enough. \nThen, when they get that, they find they need more.  How much is enough?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem when we think possessions\nwill make us happy forever is that they can\u2019t. \nPossessions are not what we are created for.  Some possessions are necessary.  Some do make earthly life more enjoyable but\nthey can never completely fulfill us because they are not what we are created\nfor.  We are created to know and his\nlove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I end with a quote from St.\nAugustine\u2019s Confessions<\/em> as he prayed\nto God, \u201cOur hearts are restless until they rest in you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CEcclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 (95:8)Colossians 3:1-5, 9, 11Luke 12:13-21August 4, 2019 We hear that \u201csomeone in the crowd said to Jesus, \u201cTeacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.\u201d We are not told the person\u2019s name.  The person is only identified as \u201csomeone.\u201d  …<\/p>\n

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