First Reading - Romans 4:20-25
Gospel - Luke 12:13-21
The first reading once again draws the example of faith of Abraham and invites us to emulate it. Paul highlights that the faith of Abraham was uncompromising and it gave him confidence in God. This confidence in God led him to walk the path of humility before God. Likewise, Paul exhorts the believers to emulate exemplary faith of Abraham so that we may be justified by God like Abraham and may be able to walk the path of humility before God.
The gospel passage introduces an account unique to the gospel; a question from the crowd that leads to Jesus' teaching regarding possessions and in particular on inheritance rights. Jesus rejected the role of arbiter between brothers because of two reasons; firstly, in order to manifest that he didn't come to reconcile the family disputes. Secondly, he opposed it because it arose from greed. Jesus illustrates that greed is to be avoided through the parable. The parable shows the rich man had surplus and more but he thought only of himself by accumulation of possession for his personal enjoyment. Jesus shows through the parable that material possessions are not permanent as the rich man discovers when he encounters the last alarming call of his life. He understands that what is 'invested' with God is only permanent. When God takes his life, his temporary possessions are left behind. Instead of being rich toward God, who never entered his thoughts, he lost all he ever worked for and far more besides. Hence, Jesus exhorts through the parable to reject greed for accumulation of wealth and possessions because they don't give purpose or meaning of life.
Dear friends, greed is a serious threat that has given rise to many tragic phenomenons in the world such as natural calamities (exploitation of the nature for the selfish purpose), poverty, disparity in society etc. Today's readings remind us of two things; Firstly, if our life is based on greed, it cannot achieve anything for the life hereafter. Therefore, we should have a right disposition towards material possessions of the world. The greed for accumulation of wealth and possession can't guarantee our security of our future life because the accumulation of wealth or possession can only give us sense of pride but can't buy a future life from the hands of God.
Secondly, we should always wear the virtue of humility before God because He lavishes His gratuitous love on us. The human pride is against the virtue of humility. The rich man in the gospel depicts the mentality of selfishness and pride without any humility before God. The rich man is addressed as 'a fool' because human pride is indeed foolishness before God. Therefore, let's live our lives realizing our faith in God that gives us assurance of our life. Let's walk before the Lord humbly, however great wealth and possession we may have, because it's humility before the Lord can take us close to Him but pride and selfishness can distance us from God and from one another as well.
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