And Jesus told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

The Ten Commandments can be summarised into two prohibitions - do not worship false idols and do not covet what belongs to another. It's the flip side of the two great commandments of Christ – to love God and to love one's neighbour. Jesus teaches us a foundational lesson with a parable about a foolish rich man. Why does Jesus call this wealthy landowner a fool? Jesus does not fault the rich man for his industriousness and skill in acquiring wealth, but rather for his egoism and selfishness - it's mine, all mine, and no one else's. The rich fool had lost the capacity to be concerned for others. His life was consumed with his possessions and his only interests were in himself. His death was the final loss of his soul! What is this important lesson for us today? It is in giving that we receive. Those who are rich towards God receive ample reward - not only in this life - but in eternity as well.

In this little parable, Jesus also probes our hearts with the question - where is your treasure? Treasure has a special connection to the heart, the place of desire and longing, the place of will and focus. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. This weekend ask yourself honestly, what do I treasure most in my life? 

Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Surrounded by wealth, blind to charity, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)"'What does the rich man do, surrounded by a great supply of many blessings beyond all numbering? In distress and anxiety, he speaks the words of poverty. He says, 'What should I do?' ... He does not look to the future. He does not raise his eyes to God. He does not count it worth his while to gain for the mind those treasures that are above in heaven. He does not cherish love for the poor or desire the esteem it gains.”

Fr John

Meditations may be freely reprinted for non-commercial use - please cite: copyright © 2022 Servants of the Word, source: dailyscripture.net, author Don Schwager