The parable of the rich fool is found only in Luke’s Gospel. It begins a longer section on the attitude of the followers of Jesus toward possessions—an important topic for the Jesus of Luke’s Gospel.
1st Reading
(Track 1): Hosea 11:1-10
Hosea prophesied in
the Northern Kingdom of Israel (he often refers to it as “Ephraim”) in the 8th
century b.c.e., prior to the
Assyrians’ destruction of the kingdom in 722 b.c.e.
Our reading today is an astonishing oracle. In verses 1-4, the Lord remembers his love of Israel. He
raised them as his children. Verses 5-7 express his anger at their repeated
alienation from him and the severe consequence which is to occur. Yet then, in
verses 8-11, the Lord leaves his
anger behind and returns to compassion. There will be consequences, but there
will be a restoration, because God ultimately cannot sever his relationship
with his people.
11:1
When
Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more I called them, the more they went
from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I
took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks.
I bent down to them and fed them. 5 They
shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king, because
they have refused to return to me. 6 The
sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle-priests, and devours
because of their schemes. 7 My
people are bent on turning away from me. To the Most High they call, but he
does not raise them up at all. 8 How
can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make
you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender. 9 I
will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am
God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. 10 They shall go after the Lord, who roars like a lion; when he
roars, his children shall come trembling from the west. 11 They shall come trembling like birds from
Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will return them to their
homes, says the Lord.
Psalm 107:1-9, 43 (Track
1)
Psalm 107 is a song of thanksgiving, in remembrance of God’s
merciful intervention in the life of Israel. It opens with a summon to thanksgiving
for mercy (v. 1-3), and then gives four instances of God’s compassion (only the
first is given for our passage this morning). Verses 4-9 recall the wandering
in the desert, close to death, when God provided resources for well-being. The
final verse is the concluding instruction for the psalm, placing it among the
wisdom literature of the Hebrew Scriptures.
1 Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good, *
and
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *
that
he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
3 He gathered them out of the lands; *
from
the east and from the west,
from
the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastes; *
they
found no way to a city where they might dwell.
5 They were hungry and thirsty; *
their
spirits languished within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
and
he delivered them from their distress.
7 He put their feet on a straight path *
to
go to a city where they might dwell.
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *
and
the wonders he does for his children.
9 For he satisfies the thirsty *
and
fills the hungry with good things.
43 Whoever is wise will ponder these things, *
and
consider well the mercies of the Lord.
1st Reading (Track 2): Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth
in Hebrew) is attributed to King Solomon, although biblical scholars believe the
language is from a much later period, perhaps around 300 b.c.e.
It is one of the five books of the Megilloth, the books of the
Hebrew Scriptures read at major festivals: Ecclesiastes at Tabernacles (Sukkoth),
Esther at Purim, Lamentations at the commemoration of the destruction of the
Temple (Tisha B’av), Ruth at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost or Shavuot)
and the Song of Songs at Passover. The
keyword of Ecclesiastes is “vanity,” in Hebrew hebel, whose root word
means breath or mist or vapor. “Vanity”
may not be the best translation—other English versions use “futility.” The
author comes to the exact opposite conclusion as the author of Proverbs, who
believes in an orderly, purposeful universe.
Ecclesiastes’ gift to the biblical record (along with the Book of Job)
is to challenge the dominant wisdom teaching that all is just and purposeful.
1:2
Vanity of
vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 12 I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in
Jerusalem, 13 applied my mind to
seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an
unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. 14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the
sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 2:18 I hated all my toil in which I had toiled
under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me 19 —and who knows whether they will be wise or
foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom
under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 So
I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors
under the sun, 21 because sometimes
one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be
enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great
evil. 22 What do mortals get from
all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? 23 For all their days are full of pain, and their
work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.
Psalm 49:1-11 (Track 2)
Psalm 49 is written in the wisdom
tradition of the Hebrew Scriptures. It reflects on the futility of riches, much
like our first reading. It is better to trust in God than in the things we have
managed to accumulate.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
hearken, all
you who dwell in the world, *
you of high degree and
low, rich and poor together.
2 My mouth shall speak of wisdom, *
and my heart shall
meditate on understanding.
3 I will incline my ear to a proverb *
and set forth my riddle
upon the harp.
4 Why should I be afraid in evil days, *
when the wickedness of
those at my heels surrounds me,
5 The wickedness of those who put their trust in
their goods, *
and boast of their great
riches?
6 We can never ransom ourselves, *
or deliver to God the
price of our life;
7 For the ransom of our life is so great, *
that we should never have
enough to pay it,
8 In order to live for ever and ever, *
and never see the grave.
9 For we see that the wise die also;
like the
dull and stupid they perish *
and leave their wealth to
those who come after them.
10 Their graves shall be their homes for ever,
their
dwelling places from generation to generation, *
though they call the lands
after their own names.
11 Even though honored, they cannot live for ever; *
they
are like the beasts that perish.
2nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-11
The first portion of this reading speaks poetically of who we already are
in Christ. The second half lifts up what we should become as a result of our
communion with him. This is our belief about Baptism. Our Baptism says all that there is to say
about us in the eyes of God. Our life on this earth then is our trying to live
into the reality of what we already are. That dynamic is key to an understanding
of Christianity and the Gospel. Our journey is a transformation into what we
already are—created in Christ, with the end of worldly distinctions.
3:1
So if you
have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set
your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden
with Christ in God. 4 When Christ
who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever
in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed
(which is idolatry). 6 On account
of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when
you were living that life. 8 But
now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and
abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do
not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its
practices 10 and have clothed
yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to
the image of its creator. 11 In
that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
Gospel Reading: Luke 12:13-21
The parable of the
rich fool is found only in Luke’s Gospel.
It begins a longer section on the attitude of the followers of Jesus
toward possessions—an important topic for the Jesus of Luke’s Gospel. It should
be carefully noted that the farmer in the story is not a criminal and, in many
ways, is simply acting as any prudent farmer would. Jesus has said earlier in
Luke’s Gospel (9:25), “What does it profit them if they gain the whole world
but forfeit themselves?” In our own day this is a crucial question in a world
where the acquiring of possessions takes up so much of our energy and impacts so
much of our self-worth.
12:13
Someone in
the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family
inheritance with me.” 14 But he
said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your
guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the
abundance of possessions.” 16 Then
he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I
do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then
he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and
there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19
And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for
many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But
God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you.
And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures
for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
The Scripture quotations (except for the psalm) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved. The Psalm translation is from The Book of Common Prayer. Commentaries are copyright © 2019 Epiphany
ESources, 67. E. Main St., Hornell, NY
14843, www.EpiphanyEsources.com. All rights reserved. Permission is given to copy for group study.
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