Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary time – Year C Avert Shameful Death

Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23/Psalm 95:1-2,6-9/Colossians 3:1-5,9-11/Luke 12:13-21

Today’s
gospel reading presents us with “The Parable of the Rich Fool”. This title
sounds funny, how can one be rich and at the same time a fool. Anyway in
business parlance the man was wise enough to build bigger storage. After all,
his harvest was rich. But how is he a fool? 
 A fool is a person who
behaves in a silly way without thinking. The Biblical meaning of “fool” is one
who rebels against God or who has forgotten him. By attributing all the
glory to himself and amassing for himself he rebelled against God. The man in
the parable represents any Christian who amasses wealth without amassing grace.
Such a Christian dies in disgrace.  May
we not die a shameful death through Christ our Lord. Amen. There are some basic
themes from the readings of today that will help us avert shameful death.

Don’t
Be A Rich Fool: There are many rich fools today. People
who have been blessed but are not blessing others. Those who are regarded as
“money miss road”. A rich fool is a man who takes breakfast in Nigeria, lunch
in Dubai and supper in London. Again, a rich fool is a man who is financially
blessed but ignores works of charity; charity I mean, not the girl in (Auchi
Poly). Anyone who calls himself Christian and has no place for God in his life
will die a fool. Many were regarded as fools in the bible because of similar
trait. Ps. 14:1, Ps.53:1 (the fool
has said in his heart there is no God above). ‘so for him it is here and now…
we die here” In fact Isaiah 32:6
better described a rich fool when it says “For the fool speaks folly, and his
heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error
concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to
deprive the thirsty of drink. Prov.
26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
We are told this parable today that will may not repeat this foolishness.
Because for some persons now if it’s not making money it’s not making sense.

Don’t
be a poor fool: A poor man in biblical understanding is one who puts is
trust in God. Such that when a rich man puts his trust in God he is poor in the
sight of God. And the Bible says in Luke6:20
blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. But in this
gospel we have a poor fool. One who seeks the face of God to fulfill his greed.
The man said to Jesus “Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.”
Now, in ancient times, the firstborn was
guaranteed a double portion of the family inheritance. More than likely, the
brother who was addressing Jesus was not the firstborn since he was asking for
an equal share of the inheritance. Thus, as against their custom he was a
greedy man. And he wants Jesus to intervene and support his greed. Amongst
children today, there are some younger brothers who always want to have equal
share with their elders once. It is a sign of greed. Greed is a bad creed that
should be abolished.

Again,
the man also represent those who pray that God should make their evil
conspiracy work… or a yahoo boy who prays that is victim (maga) should pay… which
is an abuse of grace. Again, the man represent all those who go to church not
for spiritual growth but ONLY for them to have a share of property. This is why
some people pray and don’t get result. James 4:2-4 says you do not have because
you do not ask. 3.You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend
it on your passion 4 unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with
the world is enmity with God…  The
man is an example of a Christian who puts his trust in the Lord but for a wrong
motive. Such a person is a poor fool he seeks God to massage his greed. Beloved
in Christ, are your petitions influenced by greed? What is the governing
propensity of your fasting and prayers? Why are you so committed to the Church?
What is the reason behind your coming to Church this morning? These are basic
questions we all need to ask ourselves. Not until our petitions are free from
greed and lust of the world we are not going to get result. Matt.6:33 says seek it first the
kingdom of God and its righteousness and every other thing shall be added.

Don’t
put your trust in riches: Money is not everything, don’t put your trust in
riches even when they increase. The man in the Gospel fixed his mind on what he
has gathered. Hear me, you can never gather enough. How much money is enough? I
don’t know who can answer this question. It is not a bad thing to save. In fact
it is a wise thing to save. There is a difference between responsible saving
and hoarding. Saving involves faith, but
hoarding eliminates faith. Most hoarders who have hoarded for generations to
come have almost render their children irresponsible, drug addicts and street
fighters. The way we handle resources should reveal our trust in God. American
currency reminds us that “In God we trust,” not the currency on which
that statement is printed. Prov11:28
says those who trust in their riches will fall but the righteous will strive
like a green leaf. Listen wealth is good, God wants you to have wealth but He
does not want wealth to have you. Instead of the man to break his barn and
build bigger once he would have increased his generosity.

Know that your soul will be required of you: God told this man, “This very night your soul is required of you” (Luke 12:20). Eccl.12:7, 14 One day our souls will return to God and be judged. We do not know when this will be. James 4:14 says “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” The rich man thought he had more time not knowing that was his last day. Therefore, unlike the rich fool, we must be ready at all times. No matter your acquisition six feet remains the size, the first reading says vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Therefore St. Paul in the second readings says “if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is… set your mind on the things that are above…” the secret of a happy life is not riches but contentment. We were born with nothing and die with nothing, we should be content with food and clothing. When we’re blessed with more than that, it is for generosity and good works. Beloved in Christ, don’t lose your vision of Jesus, in spite of the distraction in the world; don’t lose your vision of Jesus.

Fr.
Dan Evbotokhai

4/8/2019