August 1, 2004
Ecclesiastes 1:2,2:21-23 + Colossians 3:1-5,9-11 + Luke 12:13-21
Several weeks ago, our church began to walk with Jesus toward to Jerusalem.
It was the Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary time, to be exact; and since then we are making our way through Luke’s Gospel from Chapter Nine to Nineteen as Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem. Along the way, in the genius of Luke’s plan, Jesus instructs his disciples and forms them in the values of true discipleship. We pause today in that journey to hear a story about Jesus being drawn into a family dispute, and the discussion that comes from that dispute puts before would-be and wanna-be disciples a clear lesson on foolishness.
We are left to wonder about ourselves: how wise we are or how foolish. We are left to wonder about the power of greed, that constant yearning for more that creates false worth, and topples authentic priorities. We are called by Jesus to a kind of Wisdom that places value on who people are and what they can become rather than on what they have. This Gospel is about Wisdom, and those who would follow Jesus learn to be wise and find by that Wisdom true riches. Wisdom becomes the great treasure, the greatest wealth, the fondest possession.
The wise then stand in contrast to the foolish. The wise possess a reverent and respectful vision of the world that challenges narcissism, and the “me-first” foolishness that considers others only have one’s own needs and wants have been satisfied. The wise know the truth about what they have and who they are. They never think that what they have should give them privilege, power, or influence.
They always remember that privilege does not come without responsibility, and there are no rights in this life without duties.
There were some in that crowd who heard what Jesus said and surely grumbled. “There he goes again, warning us about our possessions. Why doesn’t he talk about the law and keeping the Sabbath and sex like the other rabbis? Why doesn’t he stick to religion and leave economic life to us who know more about it?” They were right, of course. He did talk more about the danger of wealth than anything else; and I think it’s because in the course of one’s life, more temptation and more harm come from failure here than anywhere else. Most of the people he spoke to and called into discipleship were not going to commit murder, adultery, or robbery. But everyday, they had to face the temptations of greed and selfishness. So, he did not exactly fit in, this pilgrim headed to Jerusalem with all it’s wealth, power, and privilege. Along the way, he taught us about Wisdom; a kind of Gospel Wisdom that leaves us to stand in this world like foreigners who do not quite speak the local language. The language of consumption is not ours. The economics of power and privilege is not ours either.
This weekend and next, while walking with Jesus we get a chance to wonder about true Wisdom and the power of greed. Practically speaking it means the next time we walk through a store or through the mall and think of buying something, we might ask: Do I need this?
Those who are growing in Wisdom will ask the deeper and harder question:
“What will this do to me?”
“How will this affect my life, not today, but next month?”
“Is desire to have a sign of growing greed?
“Am I really defined by what I own?”
“Am I just building bigger barns?”
“Am I Wise or am I a Fool?”
There are no foolish disciples of Jesus.