Sunday Reflections

I think most people would agree that the hardest part of moving is sorting through, getting rid of, and boxing up our possessions. We dread downsizing because it takes so much energy. Often, we are shocked to learn that no one wants our possessions. Some of us solve this problem by renting a storage unit.

In North America our consumer culture encourages us to have so many possessions that we often have nowhere to put them. We call this problem clutter. This week’s readings remind us that the endless search for meaning by accumulating wealth or possessions is a spiritual sickness.

The comedian George Carlin had a famous routine about people and their “stuff”.  His routine always made me laugh because it was so true, and helped me see how ridiculous the consumer culture is.

The readings this week have me reflecting on my possessions once again, or rather the time and energy I put into them. They warn us of the dangers of vanity and greed, a type of idolatry.

The rich man thought he needed a bigger barn to fill with his increasing riches. It never occurred to him that his barn was big enough. All he had to do was to share his bumper crop with the community, to open his barn (and his heart) to others in need. He didn’t understand that his wealth would not satisfy his soul.

This summer, let us put more emphasis on storing up the kind of treasures that bring us closer to God. Let us examine our habits or possessions. Which ones take a lot of our time and energy? Do we neglect prayer time and scripture reading as a result? Do we take time to be still and listen to God’s voice within us?

We can also ask if we neglect our community responsibility to love our neighbour.  There are many ways to manifest this in our lives. We can volunteer at a food program, give to charities, or share our excess belongings with others.

Our faith also calls us to move beyond charity to justice. We need to advocate for fair wages and fair taxation as part of our social policies. There are many in our society who barely scrape by, who struggle to have enough for food, clothing and shelter. Charity helps, but it is temporary. Long-term solutions are necessary.

Let us take time to reflect on simplifying our lives and ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern how we can share our abundance.