Dear Preachers:

Have you ever had a surprise party? Last summer I was visiting friends in California. They invited me to dinner at their home. When I entered, the house seemed empty—until a group of friends came bursting out of the kitchen shouting, "Surprise!" That word, shouted in unison by loved ones, can be startling for a moment. But then, looking at their faces—the treasures of dear friends—one is flooded with joy.

Of course, not all surprises are welcome. Bad news often arrives that way: suddenly, unexpectedly. The phone rings in the middle of the night, jolting us awake. As we reach for the phone, a knot tightens in our stomach. Bad news often begins that way. Sometimes, the voice on the line says, "I’m sorry, wrong number," and we breathe a sigh of relief. But not always.

In an instant, the comfort and security of our ordinary lives can be shaken. A phone call. A doctor’s report. The reading of an X-ray. The results of a blood test or mammogram. Perhaps a shadow on an MRI—and the doctor’s solemn face already reveals the gravity of the news. Everything changes.

Jesus frequently taught using parables—his preferred method—not by laying down rules and regulations, but by inviting us to ponder. No commandments here, just stories with hidden depth. As if to say: "Here, reflect on this. Consider your own life. What do you see?" These parables often draw on ordinary, earthy moments: a shepherd searching for a lost sheep, a woman sweeping for a lost coin, a merchant seeking fine pearls, a farmer sowing seed.

Today’s Gospel parable is unique. It is one of the few in which God appears as a character and even speaks. That alone should make us pause. God is speaking—so we must listen carefully.

Act One:

A man comes to Jesus with a legal concern. "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Did he think Jesus was a lawyer? A judge? Or perhaps just one of the rabbis well-versed in the Law? Maybe he hoped for a wise ruling. But Jesus sidesteps the request, as if to say, "There are courts for that." Still, he seizes the moment to teach. A parable follows, giving us a chance to reflect on our values, our priorities, and how we perceive life.

"There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest…"

Act Two:

The story begins well enough. Who wouldn’t want to be in the rich man’s shoes? Security, abundance, prosperity. Picture his ample table, laden with food, surrounded by important guests. Picture his vast estate. His biggest problem? Where to store all his grain. Who wouldn’t want such a problem? It’s like winning the lottery—and now you have to decide how to spend it.

But here comes the turning point: Just when we are lulled into comfort and admiration for this successful man, the parable turns. A verdict is delivered—harsh and sudden. God speaks: "You fool, this very night your life will be demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—to whom will they belong?"

Note: It doesn’t say that God takes his life. Who will? A jealous relative? One of the poor peasants longing for a better future? Riches attract envy—and sometimes worse. Think of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, who dies and is stripped of everything by those who once served him.

What matters is this: In the midst of comfort and self-congratulation, the man’s life utterly collapses. All is lost.

Why? What caused his downfall?

One striking detail: He speaks only to himself. "What shall I do?" "I will tear down my barns…" "I will say to my soul…" There is no one else in his world. No wife. No family. No mention of neighbors, friends, workers—or God. He is a man wrapped in his own echo chamber. He consults no one but himself.

God calls him a fool.

We are not made to live alone. We are part of a community. Our decisions affect others. As the poet John Donne reminded us, "No one is an island." Were his employees struggling? Could they have shared in his abundance? He doesn’t ask. He is governed by no sense of limit. How much is enough? How much is too much?

He is deluded by his possessions. He calls them "good things." Today, we might say "blessings." "I’m so blessed," we say in comfort. But if we equate possessions with God’s favor, what does that say about the poor—those who lack such "blessings"? What of their place in God’s sight?

Let us remember: this man’s logic earned him God’s rebuke—"You fool."

In the light of this parable, being "rich in what matters to God" means something deeper. It means not making life’s big decisions in isolation. It means discerning what God desires. It means praying—and listening. It means asking, "What next?"—and inviting others into the conversation, especially those whose lives are affected by our choices: spouses, families, colleagues, communities.

So what does it mean to be "rich in what matters to God"?

It means not trusting in things that cannot last.

It means viewing our possessions in light of others’ needs.

It means asking, "How much do I really need?" It means recognizing the real blessings in our lives: our relationships, our capacity for compassion, the gifts of creation that nourish and sustain.

Each of us can make our own inventory:

Who or what do I treasure?

What makes me rich in God’s sight?

ONE GOOD BOOK FOR THE PREACHER

Raymond E. Brown, AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT.

(New York: Doubleday, 1997)

This book is written for the student of the New Testament who is not a scholar and does not know Greek. Brown assumes a middle of the road approach to interpretation and still informs the reader of contemporary biblical opinion. Has excellent information about the contemporary world of the New Testament, and its theological issues as well as rich illustrative material–maps, tables and appendixes. Brown is a top notch scholar, teacher and preacher and this is an excellent resource for the preacher trying to interpret the meaning of the text for our modern world.

(Here is what Raymond Brown says about today’s Gospel text.)

The pericope on greed and the parable of the rich barn-builder (12: 13-21) is distinctively Lucan. The hopes to divide an inheritance equally or to enlarge a growing business, understandable in themselves, run against the contention that strong interest in material possessions is not reconcilable with interest in God. Ideally Christians are asked to live by the maxim "One’s life does not depend on what one possesses" (12:15...). The fate of the barn-builder reflects the expectation of an individual judgment taking place before the general judgment at the end of the world. A passage decrying cares about earthly things (12:22-34) illustrates how well off one can be without such cares. The instruction, "Sell your possessions and give alms" (12:33) is very Lucan in its outlook.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT, by Raymond E. Brown. page 247

As Pope Saint John Paul II most eloquently states, It is Jesus "who reads in your heart your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal." 

Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director,

Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries

Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC

Vanity of vanities, says Quheleth,

vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!

Qoheleth is a wake up call directing our attention away from the ephemeral towards what will last. Here is a mantra we repeat as a daily reminder to avoid greed and practice a simpler life, "I have all that I want, I have all that I need." It’s a statement that can stir thanksgiving in our hearts as we offer today’s Eucharist.

• Have I placed my trust in what is passing and will not sustain me in times of difficulty?

• What re-ordering must I do in my priorities to put more balance in my life?

POSTCARDS TO DEATH ROW INMATES

"One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out."
---Pope Francis

Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or, whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.

Please write to:

----Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.

If you would like to support this ministry, please send tax deductible contributions to fr. Jude Siciliano, OP.

St. Albert Priory, 3150 Vince Hagan Drive, Irving, Texas 75062-4736

Make checks payable to Dominican Friars.

Or, go to our webpage to make an online donation:

RESOURCES

We have compiled Four CDs for sale: Individual CDs for each Liturgical Year, A, B or C

One combined CD for "Liturgical Years A, B and C.

If you are a preacher, lead a Lectionary-based scripture group, or are a member of a liturgical team, these CDs will be helpful in your preparation process. Individual worshipers report they also use these reflections as they prepare for Sunday liturgy.

You can order the CDs by going to our webpage:

https://www.PreacherExchange.com and clicking on the "First Impressions" CD link on the left.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY EMAIL:

1. "HOMILÍAS DOMINICALES" ---These Spanish reflections on the Sunday and daily scriptures are written by Dominican sisters and friars. If you or a friend would like to receive these reflections drop a note to "Fr. John J. Boll, O.P." <preacherexchange@att.net>

2. "VOLUME 2" is an opportunity for you to hear from the readers of First Impressions. To subscribe or Send your own reflections: Send them to "Fr. John J. Boll, OP." <preacherexchange@att.net >  Your contributions to Volume 2 are welcome.

OUR WEBSITE:

http://www.preacherexchange.com - Where you will find Preachers Exchange, which includes "First Impressions," "Homilías Dominicales," and "Volume 2" as well as articles, book reviews, daily homilies and other material pertinent to preaching and Scripture reflection.

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