August 4, 2013 –– Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23; Ps 90: 3-6, 12-14, 17; Col 3: 1-5, 9-11; Lk 12: 13-21
“One’s life does not consist of possessions” (Lk 12:15).
With those words, Jesus reaffirmed what He tries to teach throughout His ministry. You may be aware that more than half of His parables dealt directly with this concept of “possessions and ownership.”
Stewardship, of course, makes it clear that what we may have, possess, or own is merely a gift for which we are the caretaker, the steward. Yet, this remains one of the main stumbling blocks to a stewardship way of life.
We live in a society that places great emphasis on possessions — the car we drive, the house we live in, the latest technological advancements. This attitude has been prevalent to humankind for thousands of years. The way the Lord addressed it in His time is still quite applicable today. He cautions us that the measure of our life is not found there, however. The parable of the rich man with the good harvest makes it all absolutely clear. The Lord closes the parable by saying, “Thus will it be for all who store up treasures for themselves, but are not rich in what matters to God” (Lk 12:21). Stewardship challenges us to get our priorities correct and to understand that what may seem important in this life is not important in the next.
