Anniversary of the “Rev. Evaristo Collazo” Church (Remedios)

Sunday, August 3

HAVING MONEY ISN’T THE SAME AS HAVING HAPPINESS

Luke 12: 13-21

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?’

Luke 12.20 (NRSV)

In this parable, Jesus teaches us a philosophy of a different kind of life: Don’t live hoarding for yourself. This is one of the few texts where Jesus doesn’t speak of riches in a prophetic tone but with a sense of wisdom. The bad thing about this rich man is not that he was immoral, but that he was completely foolish.

Jesus discredits the tendency to live amassing for oneself riches, power, and wisdom. For many people, economic wealth is the foundation of their entire lives, but it is not the only possible path to achieving a foundation, even if it is the most common path. Jesus offers redemption by means of another path, which many people fear: taking risks for those around. What is one’s own should be seen as service, not property, and what is treasured should be regarded as a gift. But why did this man fear such behavior so viscerally? Jesus addresses it, in a wisdom-filled tone, from its deepest meaning: it is equivalent to being rich toward God.

Prayer: Lord, free me from that inordinate love that we so often feel for material goods. May we be able to give value to what is most important. Amen,

Translation by John Potter

 

Aniversario de la Iglesia “Rev. Evaristo Collazo” (Remedios)

Agosto 3, domingo

TENER DINERO NO ES SINÓNIMO DE TENER FELICIDAD

Lucas 12: 13-21

“Esta noche vienen a pedirte tu alma, y lo que has guardado ¿de quién será?”

Lucas 12.20

En esta parábola Jesús nos enseña una filosofía de vida diferente: No vivir atesorando para sí. Este es uno de los pocos textos donde Jesús no habla de la riqueza en tono profético, sino con un sentido sapiencial, lo malo de este rico no es que haya sido inmoral, sino que fue completamente necio.

Jesús desacredita la tendencia de vivir atesorando para sí, riquezas, poder, sabiduría. La riqueza económica para muchas personas es la base de toda la vida, pero no el único camino posible para ello, aunque sea el camino más frecuente. Jesús ofrece redención a través de otro camino, al que muchas personas temen: tener riquezas para los demás; lo propio como servicio y no propiedad y lo que se atesore sea como don. Más por qué este hombre temía tan visceralmente esta conducta, Jesús se lo plantea, en tono sapiencial, desde su significado más profundo: ella equivale a ser rico para con Dios.

Oración: Señor, aléjanos de ese amor desmedido que muchas veces sentimos por los bienes materiales. Que sepamos darle valor a lo más importante. Amén.