EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Also Read: Mass Readings for 31 July 2022 Mass Reading Reflection for 31 July 2022
Gospel: Luke 12: 13-21
Arguably, he was the only man that was outright rejected by Jesus. His problem appeared simple, he had a brother, a fortune left behind by their late father, and a dispute at hand. Jesus refused to intervene. Even the tempter in the wilderness got a more respectful answer from Jesus.
The message is loud and clear to all who have any possession. Have a will, and make sure it is well executed on time. Because even Jesus hates to interfere with your leftover possessions. When your descendants are warring over your fortune, don’t expect to rest in peace. If you don’t settle the matters of your earthly possessions today, you are toiling like hell to make the bankers and attorneys rich. And you shall be responsible for the disputes among your survivors. Mind you, Jesus has no interest to intervene.
The rich man of the parable suffered from limited vision. He could not see anything beyond himself. He saw only his field, his harvest, his fortune, and his future. He failed to see the Lord of the Harvest; he failed to see the workers who toiled for him; he failed to see the laborers who built larger barns for him; and he miserably failed to see those who went back to sleep without a meal that day. He did not see them, because he chose not to see.
Let us go back to Jesus, and plead like the blind man on the street, “Lord I want to see”. Let us ask for the sight to see beyond our todays. Let us ask the Lord to see beyond our borders.
It pays to see as Jesus would see. Amen.
