Bible
Study: Ecclesiastes 1, 2; 2, 21 to 23, Colossians 3, 1 to 5, 9 to 11. Luke 12, 13
to 21.
If you still remember, the main theme
of Last Sunday’s readings was on prayer. Abraham prayed negotiating with God to
prevent the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah from destruction and Jesus gave us
parables to illustrate the need for persistence in prayer. Today, we continue on
the same theme of prayer as our readings present us with a clearer
understanding of why certain prayers are not granted.
A young man from the multitude called
on Jesus while he was preaching saying: “Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance
with me!” The man’s request was a prayer. He was praying for Jesus to intervene
in the family matter so that he can get his share from his late father’s
inheritance. Usually, when people brought requests to Jesus, he would go
immediately to solve their problem. He healed many who were sick and possessed
and visited so many homes of people who prayed to him while he was teaching. So
why was this man’s case different? Why did Jesus turn a deaf ear to him?
Our first reading answers this
question. “Vanity of Vanities! All is vanity.” Even our second reading today
adds: “If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things are above,
not on things that are on earth.” When my prayers are solely motivated by
vanity and on things that are on earth, I run the risk of getting a response
from God similar to that which the man in today’s Gospel passage got.
Jesus answered him saying: “Who made
me a judge or a divider over you?” For me, this sounds like God himself saying
to me: “What is my business in your personal issues?” When we examine what
Jesus was preaching about just before this man made this prayer, we would see
the reason why Jesus responded in this manner. Jesus was teaching about trusting
in God’s divine providence saying that we should not be afraid of people; that even
the numbers of hairs on our head are known by God; that we should always acknowledge
God before men. The man was listening to Jesus but the only thing in his mind
was property!
Is this not a familiar experience? I come
to church not simply because I want to learn something new or because I desire
to grow and improve my spiritual life, I come to church because I want God to
give me my share of property, money, gold, silver or position that I feel I deserve.
I have tried like this man to get my property but my efforts did not work so I come
to church to get Jesus to follow me to my house and help me divide the goods. I
know that if Jesus follows me home, my brother (which represents all those
holding what is rightfully mine), will show some respect for Jesus and release
my property. I come to church in other to use God get what I want.
And too often, I go home disappointed
because God did not do what I want. My prayers are not heard because I worship
the things I am asking God to give to me. I worship money, I believe in money, I
believe that with more money I get, the more secure I am, I believe that if I have
enough money, I will enjoy life better. In fact, I pray for more money so that
when I have enough of it, I will no longer need God. I ask for more money so
that when I get enough, I can finally become free from God’s numerous
commandments and instructions and then begin to do as I like. God knows my
heart even better than I do. He knows that I am not simply asking for money, he
knows I am asking for his replacement so he does what is best for me. He ignores
my prayers.
I am just like the rich fool in Jesus’s
parable. Since I was a child, I have always dreamt of achieving so much wealth
or achieving what economists call self-actualization. I have always dreamt of
having lots of cars and houses that I wouldn’t know which one is which as Jean Wyclef
sang. I have always dreamt of an early retirement whereby I would make so much
money and I wouldn’t have to work anymore; whereby my money will start working
for me; whereby I will be able to go to Golf Course leisurely on a Monday
morning to play and enjoy myself while my numerous employees will be running through
the traffic jams to labour and sweat out their life for me; whereby I can
travel around the world, take breakfast in Hawaii, lunch in Dubai and supper in
London.
I have always dreamt of making so
much money so that one day, I would relax and say to my soul: “Soul, you have
ample good stored up for you, just eat, drink and be merry.” In a sense, I am
also a rich fool, the only difference is that I am yet to hammer! That is, I am
yet to make the kind of money I think I need. But every morning I wake up with
this dream in mind. I am ready to do whatever will bring me money and I believe
if something is not making money, it is not making sense. Even going to church
or praying to God has to be making money for me or else it is not making sense.
What is Jesus saying to me today? That
I am a fool for having such a dream. I am a fool not just because my dream will
never come true but because my dream has no place for God. My dream takes no
account of the fact that my soul does not belong to me, that my life can end at
any time and I must prepare for my death by living righteously. I am a fool for
trying to replace God in my life. I am a fool when I act as if money is all I need
in life.
Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, I am tired of
fooling myself. Please make me wise. Amen.
Good
morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless
you. Happy Sunday.
Fr. Abu.
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