Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(Romans 4:20-25; Luke 12:13-21)
Greed stems more from a lack of trust than a lack of money. Greedy people seek to accumulate more goods
because they fear that they will run out of them soon. Jesus invites his listeners to trust more in
God and not so much on their own resources in today’s gospel.
His parable describes a successful farmer who thinks only of
himself. His bountiful harvest does not move
him to share anything with the needy or even to make a sacrifice of
thanksgiving to God. His plan to build additional
granaries proves to be short-sighted as God calls him to judgment. He has nothing to show of good deeds or heart-felt
praise.
Catholic Social Teaching takes a remarkable position on
personal wealth. It says that what we
have attained has two outlets. First, it
is to be used to pay for meeting personal and family needs and for maintaining
social position. Second, any goods in
excess of what is required to meet these needs belongs to the poor. Living according to this rule, we please God
and assure our full happiness in eternal life.
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