‘Seek what is above’

The Mass readings for the 18th and 19th Sundays in Ordinary Time motivate us to place our priorities on “what is above” and avoid focusing on an over excessive accumulation of material goods which temporarily satisfy wants. Material goods are necessary, yet when the importance of and the desire for more goods (i.e. wealth) surpasses the importance we place on our relationship with God and others, disorder abounds and, ironically, we are trapped by our very own possessions. Jesus reveals the reality of “seeking” what is above, which then prepares us for eternal life as we place our hope in God.

Stored treasure (Lk 12:13-21)

We read in the Gospel of the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus’ warning to “guard against greed” as a prelude to the parable of the rich fool. This familiar parable speaks of a wealthy man whose recent harvest was abundant. His attitude led to his action: expand the barns, store up the harvest, sit comfortably on his stack of profit for himself and “rest, eat, drink, be merry!” Sounds inviting. But he forgot to consider God’s plan and his neighbors. Instead, he hoarded his plenty, considered a pleasurable life only for himself and ignored God’s will and his neighbor’s need. Ironically, God tells the rich man that he is going to die that night. What good are all those “treasures” now? 

Two-edged sword

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The (10th) commandment forbids greed and the desire to amass earthly goods without limit” (CCC 2536). “Disordered love of money and goods which ‘often exceed the limits of reason and drive us to covet unjustly what is not ours and belongs to another or is owed to him’ ” (CCC 2535). 

Further, the church upholds “God intended the earth with everything contained in it for the use of all human beings and peoples. Thus, under the leadership of justice and in the company of charity, created goods should be in abundance for all in like manner. The fathers and doctors of the church held this opinion, teaching that men are obliged to come to the relief of the poor and to do so not merely out of their superfluous goods” (Gaudium et Spes, 69).

St. Paul VI writes “Neither individuals nor nations should regard the possession of more and more goods as the ultimate objective. Every kind of progress is a two-edged sword. It is necessary if man is to grow as a human being; yet it can also enslave him if he comes to regard it as the supreme good and cannot look beyond it. When this happens, men harden their hearts, shut out others from their minds and gather together solely for reasons of self-interest rather than out of friendship; dissension and disunity follow soon after. The exclusive pursuit of possessions thus becomes an obstacle to individual fulfilment and to man’s true greatness. Both for nations and for individuals, avarice is the most evident form of moral underdevelopment” (Development of Peoples, 19, 1967).

Going back to St. Luke’s Gospel, the rich man lacked in a desire for holiness, those matters of God. Rather he chooses to amass material wealth for a comfortable life, never considering what God desires for his life, nor the desire to share with others. Indeed, material goods are necessary to a certain point. But when these overtake our openness to God’s will through justice and charity, then we literally die empty-handed. So Jesus warns the crowds to “guard against greed” and clarifies that “what matters to God” is the real treasure.

What is above (Lk 12:32-48)

This thread continues in the Gospel reading of the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus teaches about God’s desire to give his flock “the kingdom.” The disciples are told to detach: sell everything, give alms and use durable money bags for “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven … For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”  With our hearts set what is of God as we seek what is above, our attitudes and actions follow suit. Great is our responsibility with what God has given to each of us, individually and collectively, as missionary disciples. We are entrusted with much and as such more will be demanded. How are we growing in holiness and striving each day to share what has been entrusted to our care, following God’s will and being a light of Christ to all?

“Jesus does not mean that man should forget about earthly things, but he does teach us that no created thing should become our ‘treasure,’ our main aim in life: that should be God, our creator and lord, whom we should love and serve as we go about our ordinary affairs, putting our hopes on the eternal joy of heaven” (St. Luke’s Gospel, The Navarre Bible).

Eucharistic Revival: Real gift

Considering the inexhaustible treasures of God, we look to the Eucharist, the source and summit of our Catholic faith. This treasure, the real presence of Jesus Christ, we receive in Holy Mass and worship in eucharistic adoration. Let us receive our Lord in his most Blessed Sacrament and share his love and life in our ordinary days. 

Dow is the director of the office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.