The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

1^st August 2010 Sung Eucharist

Preacher: The Dean

Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2,12-14; 2:18-23 ; Colossians 3:1-11 ; Luke 12:13-21

Impermanence of Life and Death. Wealth and Riches are like Dung

Today's Scripture is unusual. Suddenly a man comes to Jesus and asks him to help him divide up his wealth! Jesus was invited to act as mediator to solve a family contest. Well, in such cases we never fail to put in a good word, but Jesus’ reply is instead very surprising : ‘My friend, who appointed me your judge or arbitrator of your claims?’

We can say and do many things, convey many messages we ourselves think are quite clear, but what others understand is not the same at all. Sometimes there is a great discrepancy between what people understand and retain and what we intend to pass on. Moreover, what people hear and what they absorb often stems from what is most applicable and advantageous to themselves.

The man in the story who, on hearing Jesus' preaching, thought it was very attractive and that Jesus' personality and spirit were very winning. He was touched by Jesus and thought Jesus was far superior to other people. He thought: this is truly a reliable person, fair and objective, meticulously discerning. For the moment he forgot what Jesus had said in his talks, he only thought Jesus would be able to help him with his personal problem, which was to help him apportion out the wealth of his family. So he called out to Jesus in a loud voice, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” (Lk 12:13).

It is very possible that the man had been unfairly treated by his brothers and had no other recourse, so he asked Jesus to help him obtain justice.

Jesus did not get involved in the man's family dispute, but he pointed out a way to solve his family problem. It was similar to Jesus not wanting to get involved in political issues but rather pointing out the spirit with which we should face political challenges.

He taught the man that in dealing with distribution of wealth he should remember a principle: “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed” and remember that “One's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” and “Our life is more important than our processions”.

Talking about disputes over family fortunes reminds me of a Chinese story. Two neighboring families were arguing about including a wall about three feet wide in their building plans. One of the families had a relative who was a high official in the Ministry of the Interior. The family decided to write this relative to ask him to exert pressure on the other family to give way. Who would have known, the official wrote this letter in return: “Cover a thousand miles for a letter about a wall. Let them have three more feet, does it matter? The Great Wall of China is still here, but Emperor Qin of yesteryear is not seen.”

What he hoped was that his family would not quarrel with their neighbour about a mere three feet. Even if they won it would be of little matter. The Emperor Qin was a good example. He had once been a magnificent figure, but where was he today? The man's family followed his advice and gave the three feet to their neighbour. Their neighbour was so touched he moved back three feet also. The six foot-wide strip of land became a lane which people later called the 'Lane of Love and Justice.'

Actually there is profound philosophy behind this refusal to quarrel. It is that even if one wins the argument, it may be of no use.

The wealthy man in today's gospel thought that with all his wealth and treasures he would have no further worries. With great delight and contentment he said to himself, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” (Lk 12: 19) “But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, where will they be?” What is the use of gaining the whole world if we lose our soul, ruin our lives, drain away all our energy and become disillusioned and decrepit with old age?

All human beings without exception come into the world with nothing, and leave with nothing. We come into the world empty-handed, go around for a while, then leave the world empty-handed.

In Jesus’ parable, God very rarely appears in the story, but he appears in this one and he calls the man who hold up his possessions a ‘fool’. This man is really an idiot, a word which comes from the Greek, idiots, meaning ‘the one who is alone’. Although he is made in the image of his creator, he does not live as the creator does who give himself away. As Paul says in today’s second reading, our new self must be renewed in the image of its creator. God’s creativity moves out to others; he shares his richness with others. In the end, God gives himself away.

And that is the rich man is an idiot, the one who is alone : he does not share any of his goods with others or any part of himself with others. Not even his conversation.

In constant to the rich fool, Jesus spends himself. He spends his whole life sharing his talent for forgiveness, his insight, his love, his pathos, his energy, his imagination, his prayer, his stories. The list is endless. All these qualities create new life for others. Jesus keeps nothing to himself because he regards nothing as his : he says that everything he is and has comes from the Father. What Jesus owns, he own.

That way of living creatively is something Jesus hopes for in his own disciples. He doesn’t want his followers buried up to their necks chattering away mindlessly while the real world goes by. As his disciples, the inheritance that Jesus has given us is not to divide brother from brother : that would make us rich fools. The inheritance that we have received is one that we are pledged to give away. In Gospel term, that makes us rich and smart.

Yet pause and think! We are called not to become greedy and to cling to our material possessions as if they are end in themselves, but to use them in such a way that through their use we can acquire spiritual goods as provisions for our spiritual journey towards God. As such, our life is rich, our experience is rich and our love with God is rich. This is what Jesus meant when he warned us ‘not to store up treasurers for ourselves instead of making ourselves rich in the sight of God.’ And St. Paul repeated in today’s Epistle reading, ‘Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on things that are on earth.’ (Col 3:2) A sure way of acquiring provisions for our journey towards God by means of riches is to love and care for one another and to use our riches to promote the Kingdom of God.

That’s the reason why Jesus' conclusion was, “So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.” In the end all is emptiness.

Therefore the wisest way is to “store up eternal riches before God:” leave behind some worthwhile achievements for society, acts of good will done for others, protection for one's family, good deeds for one’s descendants, actions worthy of remembering and for the world, some acts of courage to emulate. Do not hold on too tightly to anything else.

And only living in this way, we can make our own the wealth of the Psalm : ‘In God alone be at rest, my soul he alone is my rock, my stronghold.’ And ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.’

And only living in this way, we can pray these words with sincerity :

I say to God : You are my God.

My happiness lies in you alone…

O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;

It is you yourself who are my prize.

Amen.