18th Sunday: be rich in what matters to God

18^thSunday of Ordinary Time Year C 2019:

There is an inherent tension in the life of every Christian.  We live in this world.  But, we are destined for another world.  St. Paul really captures this tension in our second reading.  St. Paul says, “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”  We hear a similar message in the gospel when Jesus gives the example of the farmer who wants to tear down his small barns to build bigger barns.  You fool, you should have been rich in what matters to God. So, there is a tension.  We live in this world, but we are supposed to be focused on the next world, which is our life with God.  No wonder Qoheleth says: vanity of vanities, all things are vanity.

Sure, we have to remain focused on the end goal.  But, this doesn’t mean that we can simply neglect our responsibilities while here on earth.  We still need to pay our bills, take care of our kids, participate in civil society and government.  Yet, all the while, we must do so with our eyes set on what is above.

This can be very challenging.  Some days in my life it seems like it would be much easier to run away and join the monastery.  Then I could escape the trials and tribulations of the world around me and just focus on my life with God.  Of course, then I remember that I can’t play golf in the monastery, so I stay put.  We cannot escape our lives and our responsibilities, nor should we try.  Still, it is difficult to live in the world and yet keep our eyes fixed on Christ.  

  And, it’s of critical importance.  That guy in the gospel is not wicked or evil.  He’s not out there killing people.  Rather he says, now that I’ve got goods stored up I will rest, eat, drink, and be merry.  Sounds like a nice and comfortable retirement, right?  Yet, Jesus says this guy is a fool.  We don’t want to end up like him.  What is the critical point: he stored up treasure for himself, and was not rich in what matters to God.  What matters to God: goodness, kindness, patience, love, mercy.  These are the kinds of things that matter to God.  So, how do we do this?  Two tips.

First, St. Paul gives us some great advice on how to do this. He says: put to death what is earthly, then he mentions a bunch of sins: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, idolatry.  This is a good reminder that it is really hard to keep our eyes on Christ if we are swept away by our sins.  What sin do you and I still need to “put to death?”  Don’t be afraid to walk away from sin and closer to Christ.  There is no better way to store up riches in heaven than to flee from sin and grow closer to God.

The second tip I would like to share came from my spiritual director.  He used to tell me to practice the presence of God.  I asked him what that meant.  He said: God is with us all the time, whether we recognize it or not.  Practicing the presence of God is calling to mind the fact that God is with you in the ordinary circumstances of your life.  You won’t get there without practice.  So, get in the car: call to mind God’s presence. Walk into Church, call to mind God’s presence.  Annoyed with someone at the grocery store, practice the presence of God.  Practice, practice, practice, and we will start to keep our eyes on that which is above.

Vanity of vanities, all things are vanity.  We don’t want to get so swept away by the cares and concerns of this world that we are like the foolish man in the gospel.  We might have stored up riches here on earth, but that is worthless when it comes to our life in heaven.  Rather, we want to keep our eyes on what’s above.  So, try these two tips: putting to death sin and practicing the presence of God.  These two things will help us all to become rich in what matters to God.