and enjoy yourself.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you. Tell me, who shall get all you have put aside?’ This is the lot of the one who stores up riches for himself and is not wealthy in the eyes of God.”

Lectio Divina
READ: Ecclesiastes declares all things as meaningless. Saint Paul writes that the Christian community in Colossae should seek and set their mind on things that are above. Jesus, in the gospel, issues an extraordi­ narily blunt warning regarding the accumulation of posses­ sions, illustrated in the parable.
REFLECT: Jesus cautions against abundant possessions. To him, they cannot be the source of life and security. Thus, they are not able to give or inspire life in the human person. The unrestricted accumulation of possessions at the expense of others arises from greed—the inclination to want more and to have more. Whereas, greed comes from insecurity—the feeling that there is something lacking or missing, creating  instability and emptiness. Greed is never satisfied  to  have   this   much or that much. It always wants some more and some more because more is not enough. Greed is a sign of insecurity and fear. (And many possessions project themselves to provide security.) Greed and insecurity corrupt the human mind and spirit. They take us away from (the) God and prevent us from becoming instruments of God’s goodness and generosity. That is why Jesus warns of every form of greed. What, then, gives us life if not many possessions? Jesus himself says he is the life and that he has come to give us life to its fullness.
PRAY: Lord Jesus, we pray that you become our true source of security, courage, strength, and inspiration. And take away our fears of the uncertainties of life.
ACT: Determine what is truly needed and give.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019