18^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); August 3, 2025

Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23.  Ps 95.  Col 3:1-5,9-11.  Lk 12:13-21

Deacon Jim McFadden

         Twenty years ago Oliver Stone directed the movie Wall Street (2005)  in which the main character Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas, intoned the famous line “Greed is good!” as he was immersed in insider trading.  The author of Ecclesiastes in our first reading would question Gekko’s assertion because in the end the pursuit of wealth is vanity.

            The Gospel parable of today’s Gospel is making much the same point.  Jesus effectively mocks the man who gives his allegiance to his wealth and security with the false assumption that they will bring him joy.  More to it, Jesus says beware of greed or covetousness, which is not good according  a la Gekko, but is an illness that destroys people.  How so?  The hunger for possessions creates an addiction.  Look at the lifestyle of the rich and the famous: those who have a lot never seem to be content as they always want more, demand more, and expect more.

There is a Southern California professional athlete who has two mansions: one in Brentwood and the other in Beverly Hills.  There is a rich oligarch bro’ who has a  luxury superyacht valued at $500  million and a support vessel, valued at $75 million.  All of this gargantuan consumption is directed to oneself, which is suffocating to the soul.  In this way the person is no longer free: he or she is so attached that he becomes a slave to the object of desire, which ironically was meant to bring him freedom and serenity.  Rather than being served by money, the person becomes a servant  of money.

            But greed is not good for society writ large because we tolerate, even envy such excess, which gives rise to injustice which effects the well being of the body politic.  Today, we are witnessing the extreme concentration of wealth never seen before in history, where few have so much and so many have little or nothing.  The top 10% of American households  own nearly 70% of the country’s wealth, which means that the majority are scrambling to obtain what is left.  Such concentrations of wealth also has political ramifications because as former Supreme Court justice Louis D. Brandeis said, “You can have concentration of wealth or democracy, but you can’t have both.” We are witnessing this in our national politics as dark money is gradually influencing who gets elected and what our national priorities are. 

            The lust for money enables wars and conflicts.  Why do wars start? Typically, it is the lust for resources and land that is usually involved.  There are a lot of private and economic interests behind preparing for war, as witness the arms trade.  Our country is the largest arms dealer on Earth, responsible for 43% of the world’s exports, which realizes $91 billion in total economic activity in the country, which flows throughout the economy , generating business  for firms not directly tied to weapons.

            Today, Jesus teaches us that at the heart of all this is not just the greed of the few who wealthy and powerful, but greed strikes at the heart of all of us.  We are all vulnerable to the lure of covetousness.   We can ask ourselves, “Am I detached  from possessions, from wealth, or do I complain what I lack as I also want more, demand more, and expect more?  Am I content with what I have or am I addicted to the pursuit of wealth.  One litmus test is whether you are willing to share your wealth with others.  The Old Testament offers a wise guideline to share 10% of one’s income to those in need.  To do so would indicate that one is not attached to one’s wealth, but one sees the latter not as an absolute right, but relative to the Father’s will and the needs of our brothers and sisters.

            When it comes down to it, one cannot serve two masters.  Notice that Jesus does not say “You cannot serve God or the Devil” or “You cannot serve the good or the bad.”  No, he drills down and says, “You can’t serve God and wealth”’ (cf. v. 13).  Wealth needs to be at our service according to God’s purposes.  But when we serve wealth, when we are addicted to it, then that is idolatry, which is an  offense to God. 

            So, one might think, “Geez, l shouldn’t desire to be rich.”  Certainly, I think you can; indeed, it is  right to want it.  It can be a beautiful thing to become rich, but here’s the caveat!  To be rich according to God!  God is the Ultimate Good of all; He is the richest of all.  He is rich in compassion, in mercy.  His wealth does not impoverish anyone, does not create quarrels and divisions.  It is a richness that loves to distribute, to share with others to promote human flourishing. 

            People of God, accumulating the goods of the world is not enough to be fully human, for our Lord Jesus teaches us that life does not consist in one’s possessions (cf. v. 15).  Rather, to be fully human depends upon good relationships with God and our neighbor, especially those who have less.  So, let us ask ourselves: HOW do I want to get rich, according to God or according to my greed?  And returning to the topic of inheritance which began the Gospel, what legacy do I want to leave on this Earth?  Money in the bank, material monuments to my ego, or people who have been blessed by my generosity, people that I have helped to grow and mature? 

            May Our Lady help us to understand what the true goods of life are, the ones that last forever.

Reflection Questions:

1. The hunger for possessions can be an addiction.  How do you know whether you are influenced by greed?
2. What is your reaction to Brandeis’ quote: “You can have concentration of wealth or democracy, but you can’t have both.”
3. The ancient practice of tithing (10% of one’s income) is a good antidote to greed.  How does your almsgiving compare to this biblical mandate?