Luke 12:13-21 (NRSV)
Read Luke 12:13-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." Verse 14But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" Verse 15And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Verse 16Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. Verse 17And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Verse 18Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. Verse 19And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' Verse 20But 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?' Verse 21So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."
Devotion
This gospel reading begins with two brothers disputing about their inheritance. It is ironic that they come to Jesus to be the judge over their disagreement as to how the inheritance can be divided between them. Jesus proclaims that God generously grants freely to them the whole kingdom of heaven! Seek first God’s kingdom, not your own. The brothers are imagining too small a world and too small a God. Jesus offers the truth that when it comes to the love of God for God’s children there is no need to quarrel about who is getting more, or who is God’s favorite. The abundance of God’s gifts makes our efforts to best one another in procuring more and more a ridiculous pursuit. Instead, we are invited to let the grace of God shine through us to the glory of the Father.
Prayer
Holy One, remind us of your presence. Draw us near to you and quiet our selfish pursuits. Make us instruments of your love and your new kingdom. Amen.
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