Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We continue the theme Jesus suggested a few weeks ago of ‘counting the cost to be a disciple’ as we begin another school year. Clearing the deck in our busy lives gives us time to work on relationships with your spouse, your kids, your parents, it gives you freedom and flexibility to choose what is more important in life, it gives you money in the bank at the end of the month, and most importantly it gives you the opportunity to be a disciple of Christ, a learner, a Christian. And the gospel told us that we need to ‘count the cost’ since this does not happen automatically. The culture is always pushing us to do more and we are limited beings, with limited time, energy and money so we need to choose what is most important for a Christian.
Today the gospel speaks of a rich man (Luke 16: 19-31) who feasted sumptuously everyday and the poor man covered with sores who would have gladly eaten the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. The rich man who is not named in the gospel and his juxtaposition with the poor man make the image so compelling. If you have been to Mexico, or Haiti or India or Dominican Republic you will see the same disparities, side by side.
A recent book speaks of how mighty companies fell from grace and it wasn’t that they became complacent but the author points out that they succumbed to an ‘undisciplined pursuit of more.’ They tried to do it all. The ‘pursuit of more’ can blind the most successful and intelligent people; they forget their history and their purpose in life.
The rich man in the gospel shows no evidence of being cruel or complacent. His sin was that he did not see. He was ‘pursuing more’ and missed the reality in front of him and the good that he could have accomplished. What is your ‘more?’ More pleasure, like this man, or simply more money, more approval or affection, more glory in sports for your kids, or your busy-ness which shows how important you are. These things are good in themselves but the danger is you think they will fill the hole you have in your heart, which we all have. You can use these things to numb the pain. You think ‘more’ will help you overcome the pain; it is not true. It is a lie. You and I are made for something greater.
The rich man finally sees Lazarus who is in the bosom of Abraham but it is too late to help him; that option is no longer available. The pursuit of ‘more’ is hell, and more importantly it leads to regrets. There are so many people close to you, and you may not see them; you don’t see their sufferings, their need for a visit, or just a kind word, or a phone call. Make room for God for a few minutes each day, and you will have more time for others. Use this Fall to decide well, to choose the more important things in life, and to see those around you.
