Scripture Reflection for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 1, 2004
You're So Vain -- I Bet you Think this Reflection is About You
More than likely, this reflection is about you; it's about all of us. As Americans we believe in hard work and the God-given right to amass as much "stuff" as we can. After all, we deserve it. We just have to make sure that we're dealing in the same currency that God is.
What I Learned from eBay
Like the person in the first reading, I have always worked hard. Back when I was in fifth grade I started working bingo at my parish twice a week, and I earned quite a bit of cash (for a kid that is).
What did I do with it? I used it to finance my two favorite collections -- Star Wars and Wizard of Oz. I think I was the only 10-year-old who knew what the Franklin Mint was.
By the time I was a teen, my collections had become so huge that they overtook the spare room in our house. When I bought a house myself, I had to make sure that there would be a room for all of my stuff, and I was delighted to find that this new room was even bigger!
The other day I went on eBay to see what all of my "collector's items" were worth (my dad has been pressuring me to start selling them for years). There I saw some of my favorite collectables going for $10. That's no fair! I paid $35 for that sculpture!
My heart sunk. The collection that I enjoyed amassing and that I thought would one day put my kids through college was only worth what munchkin1939 would pay for it on an Internet auction site.
Clothes Don't Make the Man
The lesson I learned from eBay is the one that Jesus was hoping to get across in his parable about the man who had to keep making bigger barns to keep all of his possessions. In the end, that man spent so much time collecting things that he forgot to have meaningful relationships with people.
This is also the message of St. Paul in the second reading. He reminds the community that they must set aside foolish divisions, whether they are based upon money or race. To truly build the Kingdom of God on earth, there can be no such divisions.
Yard Sale
The lesson of the gospel really hit home for me. I've been going through my house one room at a time and getting bags ready for charity. The funny thing is, that once you start pruning down your possessions, you actually feel a lot freer.
Today, get rid of the excess -- whether it is material or mental. Don't let the baggage of the world weigh you down. Clear away past hurts and prejudices. You'll find room for so many more opportunities.
And if you find a place for a mint condition Franklin Mint winged monkey porcelain sculpture, please let me know!
Life Applications:
What obstacles stand in the way of my having a deeper relationship with God? With others?
What do I spend most of my time doing every day? Does this adequately show who I am as a person?
What things from my past do I need to let go of in order to heal?
Copyright 2004 by Nick Popadich
All rights reserved.
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