Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, Proper 13
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 country of have and have nots. The rich get richer, and others suffer due to their greed. Throughout scriptures we are admonished to care for the poor, the sick and the strangers in our midst, and yet we find that many are reaching just the opposite. If you are wealthy and keep amassing wealth, it is a sign of God's pleasure and blessing. Yet God sent his son to a poor, unwed mother. The child and his family became enemies of the state and became refugees. Jesus worked with his hands most of his life and condemned those who made money on others' suffering. For my people, wealth was not in possessions but in the love of a family. No riches can replace the love and belonging we have in our families and clans. We are called to be rich for God, to seek building up the treasures of kindness, compassion and inclusion. To have treasure in heaven.
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A Litany for Sunday, August 3rd
Wondrous Creator, source of all families
you heap your blessings upon all people
and you live in every culture, clan and people.
Precious Lord, help us deny ourselves so we might have treasure in heaven.
We often disregard your command to love one another
instead, we hoard our wealth and ignore the rest
we are comfortable at the expense of many others.
Precious Lord, help us deny ourselves so we might have treasure in heaven.
Yet you tell us stories and show us the way to live
Your Son was born to a young mother, an outcast
and your brought abundant blessings through her.
Precious Lord, help us deny ourselves so we might have treasure in heaven.
We walk away from need while we are too comfortable
help us to see the need and share what we have today.
Precious Lord, help us deny ourselves so we might have treasure in heaven.
You have always made your home among the outcasts
help us to see your presence among the stranger today.
Precious Lord, help us deny ourselves so we might have treasure in heaven.
Make us faithful and humble again, Lord Jesus Christ
so we might be blessed as we share with all your people.
Precious Lord, help us deny ourselves so we might have treasure in heaven. Amen.
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