+ Our readings today have that "Jacob Marley / Ebenezer Scrooge kind of twist" about them. In "A Christmas Carol," Jacob Marley tells Ebenezer Scrooge that his greed is forging chains that will bind him to this earth. "It is a ponderous chain!" – as Dickens describes it. This indeed is a stark reminder to those who are attached only to their wealth: especially material wealth. All the readings today call us to store up treasure in the one place that really matters most – with God! If we try to hold on to our wealth in this life, if we become so attached to that which we think we deserve, we can be sure that it will weigh us down – like Jacob Marley's ball and chain - and make us unable to accept the light burden of Christ.
Unless we become detached from our possessions, the readings warn us, we will be unable to accept the gift of salvation. And what a tragedy that would be – both theatrically and in real life.
We need to stand with open hands, and minds and hearts - always ready to receive and share the graces that God, in Christ, offers us through the Holy Spirit. This is the simple but difficult message that we hear in these scripture passages today, and it is also the message that we see played out every day in our world, where so many are living in want. Today, in a special way, as we are fed in the celebration of this Eucharist, let us also call to mind the command that we have from the Lord, to share our wealth, to share what we have with others – who are truly in need! It is never too late to put our Christianity into practice – until the last chime: and then it truly will be "too late" – and we will be held accountable for any possible good deeds NOT DONE! Let us "share the Christmas Turkey" while we still can!
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