Storing Up Treasures

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost - Proper 13- August 4th 

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Then 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; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God." Luke 12:13-21

We live in a land where wealth is seen as winning and greedy, grabbing behavior has been given honor. We all want to be comfortable and can become jealous of those who seem to be better off than we are, more popular, or owning the best of everything. Yet happiness and enjoyment are often far off from the wealthy and powerful. Joy and celebration are clouded by worry and the need to keep control.

Jesus is confronted by a man whose brother is stealing from him. He rightly wants his share of the inheritance. Yet Jesus redirects him by telling him a story. Even when we get the money and material things we want or deserve, we can be found wanting. Our need for God's love and compassion will never be denied. Our need for worldly comfort will only distract us from loving and compassion. We are invited to consider the treasures we have and to rejoice in our blessings - family, friends and richness of love and compassion.

Today, I ask God to help me truly rejoice in the multitudes of blessings I have been given. Let us not worry about our lack, instead, putting our time and efforts into loving compassion, which can truly change our small corners of the world.

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.