18th Ord - Year C

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time -- Year C

ECC 1:2; 2:21-23; COL 3:1-5, 9-11; LK 12:13-21

One Young rich man seeing many destitute, naked people and homeless people, being pity on them he distributed some of clothes, property from his house. By seeing this action, the father of the young man so serious and asked him explanation. Son replied that they all are poor. He said that Christ asking him to love poor. Father complained his abnormal behavior to higher authorities and son replied same. So out of angry father said don’t come to my house, you don’t have any authority on my possessions. Son said for the sake of poor and for Christ I will live a poor life and he removed the clothes on his body and gave to his father, Since these clothes also belongs to the father. So for the sake of poor, He became poor and started working for reformation for the Church in 13^th century. That is none other than St.Francis of Assisi.

               All the saints in their life are not clinging to worldly pleasures. They gave first priority to Christ. The readings of the day reminding us and inviting us to become like ‘Christ centered person’. Jesus said ‘Life is not consists in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15).

          Even the first reading says ‘All is vanity’. In the parable, rich man’s land produced abundantly. Already he is rich and his crops are produced more fruit though he even not even think of the other. He is planning for future. Rich man’s character is self centered, covetous. This is not expected from him. God gives talents to each one of us to share with others who don’t have i.e. Love your Neighbor.  For this reason Jesus condemned rich man saying “You Fool!”  Then what must be the ideal Christian character should be?

                Christ centered life is nothing but live life as Christ lived or imitating Christ’s footsteps.  With Baptism we died with Christ for Sin and with his resurrection we are living. So our life is not for fornication, impurity passions, evil desires but it for Christ.

                Let our life not for worldly passions but it is for Christ. What I mean by this sentence is “Become Christ” i.e. love God and Love neighbor in day to day life. Don’t be self centered. As Christians we must do journey from ‘I’ to ‘We’. I is Self but ‘We’ is togetherness. So let us ask Christ’s help, to overcome selfishness in our lives. May our loving Jesus assist us. Amen