Transforming Encounters: The 40-Day Challenge (Luke)Намуна

The encounter we are reading about today is unusual in that we learn almost nothing about the man speaking to Jesus. The same Jesus who is otherwise so passionate about correcting social injustices, here seems to show no interest in the problem of this unnamed man. In fact, he seems to distance himself from him, and shows that he has no intention of interfering in his family relationships. The text doesn’t clearly reveal why Jesus is taking this position.

However, it is possible that this man’s request is being used here as an occasion to speak about a widespread problem. Jesus tells a story of a rich man who spent his life preoccupied with accumulating material possessions, only to learn that he would die the next night. Isn’t it strange that he speaks about the sin of trusting in wealth among a crowd that most likely did not include many well-off people?

We all know someone who is famous for collecting things and almost never throwing anything away. It could be plastic bags, furniture, tools, plastic containers, or something else. Most often it is a harmless phenomenon, but sometimes it points to something that almost all of us have in common: the ease with which we become attached to material things. As understandable as such a tendency is in a world where material things are necessary for existence, it is nevertheless dangerous for (eternal) life!

Think about this: Do you consider yourself materially poor enough that you don't actually hear this warning from Jesus?