the e-Testament
Luke 11: 1-13
The Story of the Greedy Farmer
Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.”
He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?”
Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’
“Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’
“That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”
Prayer
Dear God,
I pray that I will choose to place You in the centre of my heart,
In my thoughts, words, actions, and every desire.
May I be reminded of Your every presence and plan for me,
So that I can be a blessing to others,
Offering a humble heart and all of me.
When I stumble and fall,
And am unsure of where You are,
May I be reminded of Your every presence and plan for me,
So that I may be guided by Your footsteps,
And find my way back to You.
May I find my home in You,
Lying in Your arms without hesitation,
Surrendering to You all that I am,
Abiding in You,
Knowing that You are always with me.
St. John Bosco, pray for us.
St. Dominic Savio, pray for us.
Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.
Amen.
Reflection
In Your Arms
Life is a journey of the unknown, unexpected, and with trials and tribulations coming from all corners. How often do we ask ourselves where do we place God in our everyday situations? Do we acknowledge Him only when we thank Him for something that works out well for us? Or perhaps do we seek God only during times of darkness and loneliness? How honestly can we tell ourselves that we seek God in our every thought and action?
The life I choose, is it one based purely on my needs and desires, and my own personal motivations? Is it that I ask God what is it does He want for me or what kind of life would God like me to lead? How often do I place God in the equation when I make a choice or a decision? Or how is it that I come to a conclusion with what step I will take next on my journey?
How can I experience God in all facets of my life and at the same time offer to others His abundant joy, love, compassion, and peace? Is it by placing my needs first? Or put simply, is it to share with others what God has offered to us as His children? Whether it be the act of praying with someone who we see is suffering, offering a homeless person part of our meal, helping lead a visually impaired man across the road safely, helping a child stand-up from falling over, or even just by smiling at a stranger. Blessing others doesn’t have to always be physical, albeit, it can be the gesture of sharing some encouraging words with someone who is feeling upset, trying to help someone laugh by telling them a joke we just made up, lending our ears so that someone can voice how they are feeling, acknowledging to someone about why we appreciate them, or reminding others that we are praying for them.
As we can seen in the video, the homeless man has put his family first, in his every single thought and action, just to be transported back to a time when he was with his family, lying in their arms. We have an opportunity every single day to be with God. How can we make each day count so that we grow in God’s love in a life beside him every step of the way? Will we put all our strength and energy in loving and trusting God? And will we allow ourselves to lie in God’s arms without hesitation?
Br Gregory Echegwo SDB