18th Sunday - Wise or foolish wealth?

Eccl 1: 2, 2:21-23
Col 3: 1-5, 9-11
Luke 12: 13-21

The proverb “A penny wise and pound foolish” sounds as if it should be attributed to the practical wisdom of the American legend, Benjamin Franklin. However, it was coined by a Robert Burton; an Englishman who lived in the century previous to Franklin. Nonetheless, it offers what would be Franklin’s earthy wisdom about someone who is very careful with small amounts of money, yet wasteful and extravagant with large sums.

We might imagine a “penny pincher;” someone who is tight on their use of money, who always looks for a bargain, and is not necessarily noted for generosity to those in need – except themselves. Thankfully, it is rare that we meet such people. Still, in this economic crisis we experience, sharing from our resources is a little more difficult yet still important. My Father was an excellent businessman in retail sales for years. He was a firm believer in never paying retail price – “Buy it wholesale,” he used to advise us.

The readings for this Sunday are a clear lesson in someone who perhaps symbolizes the wrong attitude towards material possessions. We can see the foolish rich man portrayed in the Gospel story by Jesus (Luke 12: 13-21) as a warning to those of us in rich nations who daily live side by side with the lesser nations as a call to never turn money into an idol.

Surely this man is presented as an exaggerated sign of the quintessential “Scrooge.” As one who is penny wise but stores up enough supposed wealth to protect him against poverty in the future. While savings accounts, money markets, IRA’s and the like are wise investments, it is his attitude towards wealth and his overemphasis on its alleged security for the future that he is labeled, “You fool . . .” He has given power to his stored up wealth as if it has become what only faith and God can provide. He has made wealth and the pursuit of wealth, the love of money (greed), his god. He loved being rich and he wasn't about to change his lifestyle for anything.

The first reading puts it all in perspective: Ecclesiastes 1: 2, 21-23. The well known phrase, “Vanity of vanities . . . All things are vanity! . . .” Its not the most comfortable reading to be sure and maybe a bit over the top, “. . . All his days are sorrow and grief is his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity.” But when you think of it, the writer of this wisdom book is indeed a harsh reminder to us that wealth, though we all need money to live, should never be valued higher than what the life of the Spirit can provide. As the saying goes, “I never saw a U-haul tied to a hearse!” You can’t take it with you so you better understand its true value as compared to the life of Faith.

Was the man who stored up so much wealth for the future insecure? I think we find him more as an individual with a faith crisis. Though he was wealthy and had all that the world could provide on a material level – his life was empty and purposeless. He was obsessed with carefully guarding his wealth and had no room for the life of the Spirit, for God. "Where am I with this?", we might ask ourselves. Do I doubt and am I overly fearful or can I let go and trust God to be my real treasure?

I have for a long time believed that unless our lives have significant reference to the spiritual, we will find ourselves living in two dimensions. Faith, and for us as Catholics sharing in the life of the sacraments and to see Christ living and present to us in those sacraments, offers that third dimension – rich depth, meaning and purpose as to who we are in relation to God; his children, his creation.

Imagine the difference between a two dimensional icon and a three dimensional marble statue. Icons are beautiful, certainly, and have a perspective unique to that form of religious art. But, while a picture of Michelangelo’s Pieta or David, for example, may be beautiful, it’s only two dimensions - flat. It doesn’t hold the same affect or touch us in the same way as to actually see those inspired works in person. To stand before the David in Florence, Italy or before the Pieta in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, takes your breath away. Though they are cold marble, they appear alive, in all three dimensions of beauty and inspiration.

The famous story about Michelangelo is that he knew the figure he wanted to carve was already present in the block of marble. His genius and skill released those figures from their imprisonment.

Faith is like that. It gives life, meaning and purpose to us. It fills us with the Spirit of God which leads us to all Truth, Christ Jesus himself. It is that third dimension that makes all things real. All else may be enjoyable and necessary for this life but in the end, it is all “Vanity.”