18th Sunday of Ordinary Time [C]
July 31, 2022
Luke 12:13-21

Jesus is reminding us about the danger of greed. The word greed in New Testament Greek is πλεονεξία [pleorexia]. The root word is ‘pleora’ and it means ‘full’ or ‘abundant’. Certainly, there is no problem with fullness or abundance. Yet, the word ‘pleorexia’ also includes the ending ‘-xia’, and this ending signifies a problem. Like the word ‘anorexia’ that indicates eating disorder to the point of starving oneself, so ‘pleorexia’ is also a serious disorder. It is sickness in relation to abundance. Unfortunately, unlike anorexia that is recognized as illness that must be treated and healed, greed is considered a normal behaviour and sometimes, celebrated.

In our materialistic world, we are brainwashed that the purpose of life is to have more, to achieve more, and to conquer more. The more you have, the more successful you are as a modern man. Afterall, to possess a lot of money and belongings make our lives easier and pleasurable. Our societies and economics are designed to favour those who have more and can spend more. When we have money to spend, we may enjoy VIP treatments in many places from an exclusive nativity ward to an high-end burial place. To have more also means prestige and popularity. We are wearing branded yet excessively expensive cloths, and using latest gadgets. All these are to show that we are prestigious ones. As we can see, the way of the societies operate makes us believe that greed is normal and in fact, desirable treat.

Jesus reminds His disciples that one’s life is not about possessions, and He reveals the true nature of greed: it is disorder. From the parable of the foolish rich man, Jesus uncovers the disease that many of us are afflicted from. The desire to have possessions as well as be blessed with abundance are not evil in itself because as long as we live in this world, we need this earthly goods. The problem comes when we desire them excessively or seek them as the end of our lives. Why do we desire them excessively? It goes back to our own fallen ego. Like our first parents who desired to possess the forbidden fruits for themselves, we also seek earthly goods for our benefits and pleasures.

Any disorder or illness needs to be treated and healed. The first step is to recognize that we are plagued by this greed. Like any illness, if we do not see greed as problem, we simply see it as normal and refuse to treat it. The second level is to pray to God for healing. The root of greed is our fallen nature, thus, we need God’s grace to heal our wounded souls. Third step is to make a habit to thank the Lord for all the earthly blessings we receive. We recognize that all things come from God and go back to Him. When God bless us with this earthly goods, we remember that these are means for our salvation and His glory.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP