+ The gospel passage tells us in very direct terms that
the concept of “storing up in reserve” is indeed a recommended and commendable
project IF it is carried on with the proper motive and with the proper content.
“If a man stores up what will
guarantee and assure his eternal life” that is, the spiritual reality of good
works done for love of God, and all those tangential properties that goes with
this kind of storing: then he is acting like a wise man and is eligible to be
praised by God. But, if a man “builds bigger barns to hoard and stash away all
kind of things, shiny objects and unnecessary self-aggrandizing properties, the
stuff that “you can’t take with you” – then he is “shoveling smoke” – he is
wasting his time – he will have nothing in reserve when he dies – which could
be at any time, for any of us.
Therefore, as Abraham measured
all his future enterprises on God’s promise to make him the Father of many
nations in faith, so Abraham knew that the spiritual reality of “believing” in
the God of Promises was more important than anything else: and then God gave
him all he needed, and not necessarily wanted, for the rest of his life: and
his descendants in the activity of believing as well: that is, you and me.
The only caveat is that one
cannot manufacture faith, it is not just a matter of “saying ‘I believe’” – it
is rather, a willing response to God who gives the gift of believing, faith,
first! So, our “believing” is actually a thankful responding to the God who
wants us to use free will in assenting to him and his many gifts: including
salvation of our souls.
Today we pray then, fervently,
to be as responsive as we can possibly be to God’s offer of faith, believing,
that first came to us at our baptism, and which is renewed and fired up again
at this and every mass, for that is why we gather here each day: to be fired up
in God’s perfect love for us, and our perfectible love for him and for all
others he puts in our day!
Teach
me your paths, O God, make me walk in your truth, and store up in spiritual
barns what will last forever: acts of loving service to
others. Amen.
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