TO BE RICH IN THE SIGHT OF GOD

XVIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 12:13-21

In this Sunday’s gospel, we hear the parable about the rich man who illustrates the foolishness of setting our hearts to the enjoyment of wealth. This parable and the words introducing it present an indictment on avarice. Jesus gives a dire warning, saying: “Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.” 

The rich man had a huge harvest, much bigger than he expected. He kept it all for himself. In his heart, there was no place for anybody else. He could have shared with those who laboured on his field and had contributed to the good harvest. He could have thought of the poor and the needy to relieve their suffering. He could even have thought of investing, thus creating jobs for those who have no work. He was self-centred and chose a lifestyle of emptiness: “My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time.” The “good time” did not bring peace to his heart.
The first reading, taken from the book of Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes), calls that attitude a pursuit of vanity:

“For so it is that a man who has laboured wisely, skilfully and successfully must leave what is his own to someone who has not toiled for it at all. This, too, is vanity and great injustice; for what does he gain for all the toil and strain that he has undergone under the sun? What of all his laborious days, his cares of office, his restless nights? This, too, is vanity.” (Qoh 2:21-23).

The world we live in has set its heart to the pursuit of wealth, looking for ever bigger profits. However, many times, those big profits are concentrated in the hands of a few, leaving the poor in extreme situations of poverty.

Some people preach a gospel of wealth, proclaiming prosperity as a sign of blessings. Jesus himself does not want to get involved in those questions. He said clearly: “My friend, who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?” Our claims about prosperity and wealth cannot be based on Jesus’ preaching and on his way of life. It is foolishness to concentrate our hearts and minds on wealth. The important thing is to make oneself “rich in the sight of God”.

ABOUT PRAYER

XVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 11:1-13

In the first reading, we find the extraordinary dialogue between God and Abraham. Treating Abraham as a very close friend, God reveals to him his plans of punishment against Sodom and Gomorrah. And behaving as an intimate friend, Abraham has the audacity of trying to dissuade God from carrying out his plans. As if pressurised by his friend, God reduces his demands, being ready to save the two towns if he could find in them ten just men. In the end, the corruption in there was beyond any measure and the two cities were destroyed. However, in attention to Abraham, God saved his relative Lot with his family.

With Abraham, we learn how powerful the prayer of intercession can be. And the Church has chosen this passage to call our attention to that. Like Abraham, we must intercede for the world, our sinful world, so that God may have mercy on it.

In the Gospel, answering the disciple's request, Jesus teaches them "Our Father". Although Luke’s version of Our Father is shorter than the one from Matthew, it contains the same basic petitions.

As children, we address God as Father, showing trust, confidence and love. Then, we make two requests that show the relation of God’s plan with us: “hallowed be your name” and “Your kingdom come”. The name of God is holy since all holiness belongs to God. Then, what are we asking for? That his name may be hallowed in us. Indeed, may God’s holiness be present in us. And may his kingdom come, so that we find the truth, establish justice and make peace. We pray as well for our daily bread, which is our sustenance since with famine all kinds of evil come. Forgiveness and reconciliation are signs of God’s kingdom dwelling among us. Peace is not possible when we look for revenge, judge others according to our laws, ignore and despise God’s law. Finally, we ask the Lord: “do not put us to the test.” Left to our own, we can easily fall. Only God can give us the strength to overcome temptation.

To Our Father, Jesus added some advise made clear with the parable about someone who goes to a friend late in the evening asking for bread. We must insist until we are given what we asked for. However, what should we ask for? The most important gift of all, the Holy Spirit. God will not refuse to give us his Spirit.

TO RECEIVE THE LORD AS OUR GUEST

XVI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 10:38-42

This Sunday we are presented with two stories about welcoming the Lord who comes to us as the Guest. Indeed, the Lord of lords wants to be our guest. In the first reading, taken from the book of Genesis (Gn 18:1-10), the narrator introduces his story by saying: “The Lord appeared to Abraham”, thus leaving no doubt about the identity of the Guest. He appeared to Abraham as three men who came his way and approached his tent.  We get the feeling that they were just passing by. However, Abraham invited them to rest at his place and seat at his table. From the beginning, we understand that they were not just passers-by. These three men are the Lord who comes to enjoy Abraham’s kindness and friendship, even though he was not aware of who they were. Throughout the centuries of Christian reflection, those three men have been understood as the first glimpse of the Holy Trinity. 

We notice that Abraham treated those unknown guests with the best he had, preparing the food as if he was offering a sacrifice. The whole family was involved. The wife prepared the bread and the servant prepared the calf. Abraham himself presented the food and kept them company. The scene ends with the promise of a son, through whom God’s blessings will pass to all nations.

In the gospel, Jesus is the guest received by Martha and Mary. Like Abraham, they rush to welcome Jesus and make him feel at home. Martha assumes the work done by Sarah, doing all the work, while Mary takes the role of Abraham, keeping company with Jesus. The gospel presents a manifest tension between Martha and Mary, that is between two attitudes toward Jesus. Martha represents the service, while Mary represents the closeness and intimacy with Jesus. Seated at Jesus’ feet Mary is the disciple who listens, ready to learn from Jesus. The service is an essential part of discipleship, but discipleship is only possible if we sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to him. We must feel elevated by his word, in an attitude of contemplation, brightened by his light and filled with joy by his love. Only then we will be ready for the service. We must be like Mary to be able to do the work of Martha.

Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain?

He who walks without fault;

he who acts with justice

and speaks the truth from his heart;

he who does not slander with his tongue.

He who does no wrong to his brother,

who casts no slur on his neighbour,

who holds the godless in disdain,

but honours those who fear the Lord. (Psalm 15)

HOW TO BE SAVED

XV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 10:25-37

The question about salvation is a question heard many times: Are you saved? Most Protestant Christians have a quick answer. We Catholics feel a bit of discomfort as if we do not know what to answer. Is it by faith alone? I believe, thus I am saved. Is it so simple and so easy? Saint James wrote clearly that “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24).

And why is it so? “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” To believe is not enough. “Even the demons believe — and shudder!” (James 2:17,19).

When we ask such a question, we must look for Jesus’ answer. Indeed, someone approached him with the same question: “Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Eternal life and salvation are interchangeable. We are saved when we have eternal life or when we enter the Kingdom of God. Until then we are in the process of being saved. Salvation is a process that one day will be brought to completion. We have been called. And with our calling, a promise of salvation comes. And God is always faithful to his promise. However, hearing the call, we must answer and the answer is revealed in our actions.

Time and again, Jesus demanded faith from people who approached him with requests for deliverance and demanded faith from those who became his disciples. However, in his answer to the lawyer, he did not mention faith, but compliance with the Law, keeping the commandments. And the commandments lead us on the way of life: love God and love your neighbour. If we ignore our neighbour, we ignore God and walk on the way that takes us to condemnation and perdition. Salvation is only possible when we enter a relationship of love with God and our neighbours.

The commandment given to the lawyer who asked the question is the commandment given to us: “Go, and do the same yourself.”

I BOAST ONLY ABOUT THE CROSS OF CHRIST

XIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Galatians 6:14-18

These times we are living in, we are faced daily with novelties that leave us puzzled. Pride and the boasting that goes with it were considered a grave sin, being one of the seven deadly (capital) sins, meaning that it is the source of other sins. However, nowadays, it has been instituted the pride month. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, writes that some people “glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” (Phil 3:19). A tiny group, counted on their percentage, wants to rule the world and force everybody else to swallow their self-dignity to celebrate the exception. We used to say that the exception confirms the rule. Now, the exception wants to be the rule. Is there any pride to go against the rule and swim against the current to invert reality and impose oneself on others? Pride is a sin because it forces the world to move around me. I establish the rules and everybody else has to live by them. If the others question my self-assertion, they will suffer my wrath and be cancelled. They have no rights to be affirmed, but the right to acclaim and serve me.

In the passage of his letter to the Galatians, which we read this Sunday, Paul considers that he has nothing to boast about, but the cross of Christ “through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.” The cross of Christ sets a different path, the only path that leads to salvation. Jesus crucified is the way and only way that leads to life because it leads to God. The cross is the affirmation of faithfulness and total self-giving. Jesus was ready to spend his life and shed his blood for the sake of others. He came “to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:45). To become Jesus’ disciples, we must carry our cross (Mt 10:38). That is why Paul considers himself crucified to the world. He does not conduct himself anymore taking into account the values of the world, such as hunger and thirst for power, wealth, and fame which lead to one being swollen with himself to the bursting point. Christ lifted on the cross is set before us for us to be healed and saved, making it possible to live in love and to find peace.