FALSE SECURITIES

SABBATH

Isn’t it that often we live as if our life would continue forever? We just cannot imagine that all we do and enjoy would end one day. We plan, we provide for the future and feel secure — until a sudden illness or an unforeseen accident rattles us.And we realize that we had relied on a false security. We make insurance companies happy when we “buy” security against illness, theft, fire, accidents. But can all these insurances prevent us from dying? During the economic crisis in 2009, several billionaires in my home country, Germany, committed suicide because they lost millions. They were content with what they had accumulated over the years, only to find out that it was a false security they had relied on. The Titanic was considered unsinkable because it had 16 water-tight compartments and four could be flooded without endangering the ship — until that horrible day, April 15, when an iceberg ruptured five compartments, one too many, and the ship sank killing 1,513 passengers. They all had relied on a false security. That’s what Jesus is trying to tell us in today’s Gospel reading. The rich man actually acts quite reasonable. God had given him an extraordinary good harvest and so it was natural to plan for an early retirement and enjoy the rest of his life. But it was a false security. All his beautiful plans were suddenly shattered on the very night he had made these plans. That is why God calls him a “fool.” He planned for his future without taking God and God’s plans into account. Does God then want us to live in constant insecurity? Far from it! Jesus wants us to put all our trust in God’s plans and providence. God is the only security we have in this world and life. If we are realistic enough and include even our inevitable death in our plans for the future, even death becomes meaningful because it is nothing but a natural return to where we came from: God. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD   Reflection Question: Do I live as if I would live forever, or do I include the end of my life in my plans?   Lord, thank You for reminding me of the only certain thing in my life — my death which is my return to You. Thank You for reminding me to put more trust in You and Your plans.   St. John the Dwarf, pray for us.