Homily for the Eighteenth Sunday of the Year (C)
CADBURY
The name Cadbury will be no stranger to the chocoholics among us here, and let’s be fair, who could say that they are not familiar with Cadbury Milk Chocolate. Probably though, many will not be familiar with its origins. The story began in 1824 when John Cadbury opened a grocer's shop in Birmingham, England. Among the groceries, he sold cocoa and drinking chocolate, which he prepared himself using a mortar and pestle. These products became very popular, and in 1831, John bought a warehouse nearby and started manufacturing with the help of his sons, George and Richard Cadbury. The business went from strength to strength especially as they developed ways to process 100% cocoa. The introduction of Dairy Milk Chocolate in 1905 was the game changer.
Motivated by their Christian faith, the Cadburys believed in social responsibility and the fair treatment of workers. They built a new kind of factory, filled with green spaces, where workers could enjoy a better quality of life, and they were the first to build houses for their employees. In addition to the physical environment, the Cadburys were committed to paying fair wages and ensuring good working conditions. They introduced pension schemes, medical care, and even education programs for their employees. This was quite revolutionary at a time when many workers faced harsh conditions and low pay. The Cadburys themselves lived modestly despite their success. They believed in leading by example and practiced what they preached. They were known for their charitable work and contributions to social causes, reflecting their commitment to the values of simplicity and humility. How completely different to the rich fool in today’s Gospel parable!
DESCRIPTION OF HUMAN LIFE WHEN GOD IS IGNORED
Vanity of vanities! Everything is vanity! It would appear that the Preacher, a Jewish philosopher of Old Testament times, is saying that everything is meaningless. He paints a rather negative picture of human life on earth. In this book of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher is trying to understand the purpose and value of human life. He tests everything - pleasure, riches and work, and finds them all lacking. He uses the word “vanity’ to describe everything as empty, worthless and futile. At this stage we might get the impression that he is at the point of despair.
Actually, this book in its entirety, that is reading the whole book, may be understood as a description of human life when God is ignored. From the limited perspective of the world and our lives from the standpoint of human reason alone, all is vanity. Human life and everything it involves is meaningless and futile if it is kept apart from God.
This reading from Ecclesiastes challenges us to look at our attachments in life. What are our priorities? What are our concerns? Unless they are rooted in God and serve our ultimate goal to be united with God, they are all vanity. We are challenged to put things in their proper perspective and to get our priorities right. It makes us think of the Gospel text we heard two Sundays ago, when Jesus says to Martha “You worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one.”
Each of us has attachments which can be obstacles in our journey to God. There are attitudes and obsessions that cause a hardening of our hearts, and this means that we are unable to listen to the voice of the Lord. When we are caught up in worldly matters, there is a lack of sensitivity to the things of God.
In today's Gospel, we see a link between the teaching of Jesus and that of the Preacher, which we heard in the first reading. Jesus invites us to make ourselves rich in the sight of God! We are given the parable of the rich fool. Jesus describes a man who lived his life without any thought of God and of his ultimate destiny. This man was completely caught up in his work, not recognising that it was all futile and meaningless without God. He thought that his existence was under his own control.
LOOK FOR THE THINGS IN HEAVEN
Jesus makes it clear that a person’s life is not made secure by what they own; rather we are made secure by storing up treasure in heaven - making ourselves rich in the sight of God. The main problem today may not be that people don't believe in God; rather they are indifferent to him, or they haven’t made the connection between God and their lives. Probably most people end up doing God part-time. Their main focus is on material and earthly things. But, without God and the perspective of eternity as the primary focus of our lives, all these things are vanities.
This is not simply an issue of being wealthy or not wealthy. Some wealthy people may be the most generous people, who are charitable with time and money and live modest lives. Equally, a relatively poor person might be so consumed with the goal of accumulating wealth, that they may lose the plot and forget the nature of true treasure, true riches.
The second reading that the Church gives us today shows us the correct focus for our lives. St Paul invites us to “look for the things that are in heaven.” Our priority must be God and heavenly things. And it gives the reason why: We have a radically new identity because we have been baptised into Christ. We do not belong to ourselves any longer. We have been given the gift of living with the life of Christ.
St Paul teaches that our new identity calls for a radically new way of living and acting. He is quite clear that this new identity is incompatible with certain kinds of wrong behaviour. He even uses the strong language of saying that we must put to death everything in us that belongs only to earthly life. We must get rid of all those actions and ways of living that do not match up to the standards required by our nature as Christians.
TRUE TREASURE IS THAT WHICH SATISFIES THE DEEPEST LONGINGS OF OUR HEARTS
Jesus himself says that where are treasure is there will our hearts be also. We can ask ourselves: Where are our hearts? Are they set on true treasure? What is most important, of most value to us? What preoccupies our time, our interests, our activity? This is a good indication of where our hearts are. Our lives are meant to be about recognising and storing up true treasure. True treasure is that which satisfies the deepest longings of our hearts.
True treasure for us, who are disciples of Jesus, is friendship with Jesus. St Paul wrote in the Letter to the Philippians, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” St Paul knew the real treasure to be knowing Christ. Real friendship with Jesus, living for him alone, and loving him above all else, giving up our lives, our very selves for him, is the only treasure rich enough to satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. It becomes the one thing necessary: the highest good and our first priority.
These readings challenge us to examine whether we are living up to who we are in Christ. Each of us must search for all those vanities that are obstacles in our journey to the Lord; those things which harden our hearts and prevent us recognising and storing up true treasure.
We could sum up today’s readings by saying: Live as one who is united to Jesus, focussed on Jesus and on true treasure.
