| Today's Gospel (August 5, 2007) consists of a mere ten sentences. But like many things that are short and succinct, this Gospel passage could be subtitled "Greed 101," because it leads us to reflect on a whole world of sub-issues connected with the broader theme of material possessions and how they fit into the life of discipleship.
Let us revisit the scene. There is a crowd around Jesus, and he is teaching. Remember that Jesus, by this time in his ministry, had gained a reputation as someone who understood Jewish law so well that he could be called upon to make judgments on issues of right conduct, in other words, to apply the law to real-life situations. So someone in the crowd addresses Jesus as "Teacher," and asks him to act as an arbitrator in a dispute over a family inheritance. In reflecting on that sentence, I was struck by its tone, because the man is not simply asking Jesus to arbitrate. There is a harshness to his words, and a hint of demanding. Listen again to what he says: "Teacher, TELL my brother to divide the family inheritance with me!" Ah, inheritances--how often they become the source of conflict and pain between family members! Families have been torn apart over the issue of what is to be passed on, and to whom, when a family member dies. I would venture a guess that many of us can think of an instance in our own families--immediate or extended--in which an inheritance has become such a source of conflict that relationships have been ruptured. One such extreme case right here in Sarasota is still in the headlines: the terrible and tragic murder of Susan Fast by her mentally ill stepson who believed that his father had written him out of his will, in favor of his stepmother. This, for sure, makes Jesus' response to the man in our Gospel reading even more appropriate, not just for him, but for us.
Instead of stepping in as an arbiter, Jesus, who can read hearts, realizes that the man's question is prompted by self-interest rather than caring about the proper workings of inheritance laws, and he seizes this teachable moment. Listen again to what Jesus says: "Friend (even though the man was a total stranger)...take care…be on your guard against all kinds of greed...for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." How timely and how relevant are these words for us, 2000 years later, in a world and a culture that screams at us, in both obvious and subtle ways, to BUY, BUY, BUY! The line that separates needs and wants has been blurred, or, as many thinking people would say, obliterated. For example, you´ve probably seen the ad on TV for Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. Their pitch line is this: “America runs on Dunkin’,” with the implication being that, if you are still drinking Folgers or Maxwell House, you should be ashamed! Another version of this same push to turn us all into conspicuous consumers is Home Depot's bumper sticker with its new nickname: "my toy store"! A few days ago I listened to an interview on ABC´s early morning news with the author of a newly published book entitled “Emotionomics: Winning Hearts and Minds.” It turns out to be a how-to book for the marketing profession, helping companies to increase sales, and make their shareholders happy, by focusing on consumers’ emotions rather than the tried-and-true strategy of appealing to reason. Chances are, it will be a best seller! One final example of how our culture tries to equate worth with how much "stuff" we have: did you know that one of the hottest franchises to get into, either as an owner or investor, is the self-storage business? In preparing for this sermon, I looked in the yellow pages and found almost 100 storage businesses in Sarasota. 100!!! And the marketing approaches that they use are amazing, with cutsie names like "Kangaroom Mini Storage," "Designer Warehousing," "Add-A-Room Self Storage," and "Pinnacle of Self Storage." We've accumulated so much "stuff" that we don't know where to put it all! And for many people, once they start buying, they simply can't stop. Like the old adage says, "much wants more." And oftentimes it becomes a matter of "keeping up with the Jones," or, even more extreme, "outdoing the Jones!"
You may be familiar with the story about a mother who had three sons, each of whom, after they grew up and left home, prospered financially. They used to meet for lunch every once in a while, and they would boast about how well they were doing. Each of them, in fact, had so much money that they didn't know what to do with it. One day, over lunch, they discussed the gifts they had given to their elderly mother for Mother's Day, which had just passed. The first son, Milton, boasted, "I built a brand-new house for Mom." The second one, Gerald, smiling smugly, said, "I sent her a Mercedes with a chauffer."
Donald, the third son, said, "I've got both of you beat. Remember how much Mom enjoyed reading her Bible? You know she can't see very well anymore. Well, I found a most remarkable parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twelve years to train it, and a fortune to buy it, but with all the money that I have, I felt that Mom was worth it. The parrot is one of a kind, and all Mom has to do is name the chapter and verse, and the parrot recites it." Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her thank-you notes. "Milton," she wrote to her oldest son, "the house you built for me is so huge. I really live in only one room of it, and to tell you the truth, it's too big for me." Her note to Gerald read: "I am too old to travel much anymore. My eyesight isn't what it used to be. I stay at home most of the time, so I rarely use the Mercedes. And, by the way, the driver is rude!" Her note to her youngest son read as follows: "Dearest Donald, you have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken you sent was delicious!"
While it is likely that none of us has the wealth of Milton, or Gerald, or Donald, Jesus cautions us against measuring the value of our lives by the amount of possessions that we have. He uses the parable that we just heard in the Gospel reading to drive the point home.
Just for fun, I re-wrote it, using modern images:
"There was a man, almost as rich as Donald Trump (his hero), who had made millions on his Wall Street investments. His earnings had enabled him to build a 10,000 square foot mansion on Longboat Key. Life was good! As time went on, his wealth increased. He often thought to himself, "I'm living the life I always dreamed about. That old expression, "eat, drink and be merry" is no longer something to wish for. It's what I'm doing!" One day, at a cocktail party, one of his friends kidded him about the middle-age spread that his once-trim body now exhibited. The next day, he decided to do something about it. He started to draw up plans for a free-standing gymnasium next to his mansion where he could work out and trim down. He would even hire a personal trainer who could live in the apartment that he would include in the building. Unfortunately, building such a structure would require a variance which had to be approved by the Zoning Commission. The man went to present his case directly to the Commission, but, unfortunately for him,, the variance was denied. That night, still fuming about the Commission’s decision (since, after all, he was a man who knew what power is and how to use it), he was gripped by a sudden, crushing pain that enveloped his chest and spread down his left arm. His wife called 911, but before the ambulance arrived, the man was dead from a massive coronary.
So, what is the point of the parable? There are several, one of which is this: just because we have many possessions doesn't mean that we are in control. What we have, and what we own, has no survival value for eternity. Another point is that if our number one priority is amassing wealth or possessions, or living out the "eat, drink and be merry" philosophy, we are at risk of cutting ourselves off from an ever-richer relationship with God. The last sentence of the parable that Jesus told doesn't have to be updated with 2007 images and words. Its relevance stands, spanning the centuries that have passed since the original telling of the parable: "So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."
And what does it mean to be "rich toward God"? For me, the answer is found in the beatitudes, in which Jesus describes a lifestyle that is often at odds with the culture in which we live. Reverend Charles Kiblinger, a retired Episcopal priest who now resides in Sarasota and assists at Saint Boniface, preached a magnificent sermon a few years back, entitled "Beatitudes as Counter-Culture." It can be read in its entirely, and I encourage you to do so, by going to the St. Boniface website (www.boniface.cc) and clicking on "Sermons & Papers," then clicking on "Archives." I would like to end our meditation this morning by reading a couple of excerpts from that thought-provoking sermon.
"The culture says: Happy are they who have and hold an abundance of talents, good looks, money and things, accomplishments and good deeds. Happy are those who are able to minimize the negative experiences of life by accumulating a large proportion of the wealth of this world, for to them belong the kingdoms they build.
Jesus says to those who would be his disciples: "Blessed are the poor in spirit"--blessed are those whose poverty makes them vulnerable enough to know that they are totally dependent on God and that everything they have is a gift from God. They know who they are. They are truly blessed, for they have eyes to see the Kingdom of God in the richness of life that surrounds them.
The culture says: Happy are those who hunger and thirst for power, control and material gain, and are willing to sell their souls for it, for they will get what they ask for.
Jesus says: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." Happy are they who seek in all things to live in right and honest relationship to the Creator, their neighbors, and their own true selves, for they will be filled. They will be filled with inner treasure that can never be destroyed or taken away."
Like Jesus, may we be willing to stand up to the prevailing culture that entices us to take our eyes off the real values in life. Like Jesus, may we be willing to be a counter-cultural presence in our world, cultivating values that focus not on "things," but rather on the furthering of the Kingdom of God. In so doing, we will move one step further along on our journey to be Christ in this world.
Amen. Keehna Sture, Member, St. Margaret Vestry
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