HOMILY WEEK 29 01 – Year I
On Being Rich Towards God:
Optional Memorial of St. John of Capistrano
(Rm 4:20-25; Lk 1:69-75; Lk 12:13-21)
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A hundred-dollar bill, a twenty-dollar bill and a Looney were having a serious conversation about live one day. The hundred-dollar bill boasted he had a very good life, as he had been on some ocean cruises. The twenty-dollar bill also claimed he had a good life, as he had been to some fancy restaurants and operas. The Looney said, “Boy, I am envious of you guys. All I get to do is go to church, church, church!”
The line from the gospel, “Thus it will be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God,” is a strong incentive for us to get our priorities in life straight, and make every effort to “be rich towards God.”
The commentary on this gospel for today in The Word Among Us tell us “Jesus wasn’t about to get pulled into this family dispute. The man questioning Jesus wanted to get his fair share of the inheritance. But Jesus redirected him to make himself rich not in possessions but in ‘what matters to God’ (Luke 12:21). Instead of being interested in how much this man and his brother possessed, Jesus focused on how they used their God-given gifts in line with God’s priorities.
Take a look at the parable: the landowner is called a fool, not because he was wealthy, but because he stockpiled his wealth. He was concerned only for his own comfort and security. He ignored the needs of the people around him. That attitude stands in stark contrast to God’s compassion for the poor and suffering.
How could things have been different? Following ancient Jewish tradition, the landowner could have left gleanings on the edges of his fields for his poorer neighbours instead of reaping every single grain. Better still, he could have urged the townspeople to take bags of grain home to their families. Even more, think of the joy if he had thrown a barn dance so that the whole village could celebrate the harvest together!
We might be tempted to chuckle about this man until we realize that we too have been blessed with a bountiful harvest. Regardless of the amount of material resources we possess, each of us has God-given gifts. Each of us has been given the gift of faith: we have unique talents and loving relationship. These are the gifts we can share with the people around us, instead of keeping them to ourselves.
It could mean sharing our faith volunteering to help with a children’s Liturgy of the Word or with a Bible study at church. It could mean giving of our time to visit people in a nursing home. Or maybe we could use our green thumb to bring some flowers to a local hospital or to decorate the church.
Let’s share those good things that God has given us. Let’s use them generously to life people up. That’s the best way to become rich toward God.”
This gospel brings to mind a humble initiative I started some years ago to help out people who found themselves in dire straits. Instead of being a “hand-out”, it consists of an interest-free loan to be paid back as best as they can whenever they can, and if they can, make a small donation back to the fund to help someone else. This initiative over a few years has helped numerous individuals and couples get back on their feet. Whenever necessary, I would send out an appeal for funds, and was surprised at, and grateful for, the generosity of so many people who contributed. Realizing that my money was not helping anyone while in the bank, I would add to the fund from own resources when needed. I called it Serene Hope because it was intended to bring hope to those in desperate need, and some joy and serenity to all those who contributed. It has done that in spades, at least for me. Even today’s gospel renews that joy of giving within me.
Another incentive to share is the reality that nothing material lasts forever: a flower fades, the beauty of a sunset is fleeting, food kept too long goes bad. The best way to keep our joy and peace growing is to give our time, treasure and talent away, in whatever way is most appropriate for us.
St. John of Capistrano
The Church today remembers St. John of Capistrano. Born at Capistrano in the Kingdom of Naples in 1386, John trained as a lawyer at the University of Perugia and became governor of that city in 1412. Imprisonment, however, prompted him to change his life. When Perugia became involved in a conflict, John was imprisoned, leading him to a period of reflection. At age 30 he joined the Friars Minor and was ordained to the priesthood. For the next 30 years he preached missions in Italy, drawing large, enthusiastic crowds. Meanwhile, he assisted Bernadine of Sienna in re-uniting the divided Franciscans. John was frequently sent on papal diplomatic missions. While his preaching revived the faith of many, some of his methods in dealing with heretics were unfortunately harsh. In 1453 he was called to Hungary to preach a crusade against the Turks threatening to take Vienna and Rome. At the age of 70, carrying a cross rather than a sword, John led a wing of the Christian army in the Battle of Belgrade. The victory in 1456 prevented the Turks from overrunning Europe. A few months later John died of the plague. He is a patron of military chaplains.
The Eucharist is God’s supreme gift to us, a participation in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus’ own life on the cross to reveal to us the depth of God’s love for God’s people. May our celebration strengthen our faith, help us line up our priorities with God’s priorities, and help us be “rich towards God.”
