Monday of the
Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(Ephesians 2:1-10; Luke 12:13-21)
Both readings today speak of riches. The Letter to the Ephesians, citing a passage
from the Old Testament, says that God is “rich in mercy.” It goes on to explain how this abundance is
extended to humans in the “riches of grace” which is accessed by faith in
Christ.
The gospel offers contrasting riches. Jesus warns the crowd not to seek material wealth
with his parable about the rich farmer.
The man, who is called a fool, builds a storehouse with his surplus rather than use it to
help the needy. At the end of the story Jesus
references God’s riches to exhort the people to be merciful and gracious.
The other day the lottery in our state publicized on
highway billboards a $660 million jackpot.
No doubt thousands of people stopped on their way home to buy
tickets. The vast majority of us, even
if we don’t want to become rich, feel the need for something more. If we are wise and not foolish, we will seek that
“more” in God’s riches. With mercy and
graciousness, we become like our Creator.
Seeing that, He will keep us as his own for all eternity.
