Promoted or Left Behind (2016-07-31)

July 31, 2016,

18^th Sunday, Year C

 [ Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23,  Psalm 90,  Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11, +Luke 12:13-21 ]

Title: “Promoted or Left Behind?”

[__00__]   When I was in elementary school, in the second grade, I had the audacity to ask the principal of the school, the person in charge, this question in the parking lot, in front of other people. I did not know about proper “boundaries” then.

          I felt moved to interrogate the principal because one of my classmates had not been promoted to second (2^nd) grade. He would have to repeat first (1^st) grade.

          I asked the principal, “Why did Bobby get left back?”

          Did I even know what “left back” really meant?

          Nevertheless, I wanted an answer, though I am sure that I would not have understood the reasons, the evaluation. My parents were appalled, embarrassed  by my impertinence.

          To be honest, I do not even recall that I asked such a question. Only years later did my parents remind me of this event  and their own personal reactions.

          My mother told me that the school principal humored me with a respectful answer that ended the press conference with no further incident, scandal, release of tax returns or deletion of emails.

►ADDITION:   I use this an example in which SILENCE is an answer. That is, the silence of Jesus, the authority figure, about

the particular problem, is an answer.  Are there not situations in which we are called to search and examine our

consciences for the right answer, the right action.  Sometimes, there is no one to tell us exactly what to do.

►ADDITION:   And, our faith gives us principles, standards to apply to every situation. We are then called to search our own hearts and minds.

[__01__]   In the Gospel this Sunday, someone emerged from the crowd with a question for Jesus. The person wanted an authoritative response, a decision, and a favorable financial outcome/result. The person asked Jesus, demanded:

“Tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” (Luke 12: ___)

This person also did not want to be left behind, to be left back. And, he wanted Jesus to solve his problem, his material and monetary difficulty.

[__02__]   Who is right? Who is wrong in this case of the bequest, the legacy?

Certainly, one of the brothers must be in the wrong. Maybe, one was being dishonest. Or, perhaps one had been perceived as dishonest and was being falsely accused.

Thus, this man appears, asking Jesus to save his retirement plan, rescue his portfolio, to mend his safety net.

“Tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”

(Luke 12: ___)

I don’t want to be left behind. Or, if I were to be left behind, please tell me why.

[* * * PAUSE * * *]

[__03__]    It is certainly true that our faith, our faith in Jesus as our Savior, is meant to give us guidance, to help us to persevere, to help us to discern right from wrong, good from evil.

          For example, we know that our Lord had a special love for the poor and a skepticism about the rich. This does not mean that rich people are evil.

          This Gospel reading is one such example. On the one hand, Jesus seems indifferent toward – not to care about – the man’s lost “401(k) money”.

          On the other hand, Jesus also cautions against  the construction of barns, safe deposit boxes or secret bank accounts just to feel safe or to keep everything in a safe.

          So, on the one hand, Jesus does not intervene to help the man who is injured or hurt by greediness.

          On the other hand, he also indicates that greed is not good, contrary to the famous and fictional Gordon Gekko of Wall Street.

          Jesus does not seem to provide an answer as to why some people get left back or some people get way ahead.

          However, he is asking us to avoid excessive attachment to material things.

[* * * PAUSE * * *]

[__04__]    Who is left back? Who is promoted?

          As a nation, as individual voters and citizens, we also face choices between candidates, choices between political parties.

          We might also wish that God would clearly intervene to anoint, to select one candidate over the other.

          This method was tried, without complete success, in the selection of the first kings of Israel --  Saul, David…

          Then, when Jesus arrives, some expect him to come as a king, with a kingdom, a plan, and a budget.

          However, Jesus does not come with such a plan to govern.

          Rather, he leaves us with the Beatitudes, with the Commandments, with the Gospel and with principles and standards to govern ourselves and also to evaluate our leaders.

[__05__]    These principles include, but are not limited to, the question of who gets left back? Who is promoted?

          Rather than direct advice regarding whom to vote for, we are asked to consider in our vote –

___ does the unborn child get left back? Left behind? Promoted? Protected?

__ does the nuclear and traditional family of  a man and woman, husband and wife, with children get left back or marginalized? 

__  is our national defense and our military being strengthened with the resources they need? Is our international diplomacy being carried out to avoid military intervention? 

__ are young people receiving the education, training, opportunities and discipline they need to raise their own families? Are they being left back or promoted?

[__06__]     In the Gospel and on Tuesday November 8, Election Day, you and I are asked to reflect on these principles.

Jesus is not going to tell us exactly how to split up the inheritance.

But, as our Savior and Lord, he is expecting us to share our inheritances, and to rely on the authorities alone to take action.

Thus, we are called to avoid the same trap as the rich man in the parable. He is very similar to you and to me. He has no idea when his time is up.

[__07__]     [__08__]     [__09__]     

[__10__]     [__11__]    [__fin__]