Reading I: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23
Reading II: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
GOSPEL: Luke 12:13-21
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 think we deserve it. But it might be wise 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!
One day I went on eBay to see what all of my “collector’s items” were worth (my dad had been pressuring me to start selling them for years). So I searched the site and found… some of my favorite collectables were only selling for $10. That’s not fair! I paid $35 for that sculpture!
My heart sank. 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 in the second reading. St. Paul reminded the Colossians they must set aside foolish divisions, whether they were based upon money or race. To 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 finally went through my house one room at a time and got bags ready for charity. The funny thing was, once I started pruning down my possessions, I began to feel a lot freer.
I challenge you to start 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 Wizard of Oz winged monkey porcelain sculpture, please let me know!
Life Applications:
What obstacles stand in the way of having a deeper relationship with God? With others?
How do you spend your time each day? Does this reflect who you want to be as a person?
What things from your past do you need to “let go” so you can heal?
Check out the REAL Word Podcast for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C):
Original article by Nick Popadich, 2004-2022.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.