The Abundant Life
Scripture Readings for This Week: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23; Psalm 49:1-12; Colossians 3:1-11 and Luke 12:13-21

Western culture would have us believe that life consists of an abundance of possessions, an abundance of freedom—license—to do exactly as we please, an abundance of time to live life with as much fun and as little responsibility as we can possibly manage. Summer, we are told—this season full of lazy, hazy, crazy days—is a great time to head out to the cabin on the lake, take the boat out for a few days, and relax. Eat, drink, and be merry!
Even those of us with more meager summer plans are often surrounded by an abundance of stuff: clothing that no longer fits, books we never read, toys the kids have outgrown—and how many pairs of shoes does one person really need? The growth of the storage unit industry tells us that as a society, we are collecting stuff at an alarming rate—especially given that most of the stuff is itself collecting dust in a closet or attic.
In this week’s gospel, Jesus issues a serious challenge to those of us surrounded by too much stuff. He reminds us that “life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). And if we’re honest with ourselves, deep down, we know that’s true. Our abundance of possessions does not fill us, does not truly satisfy us, and certainly does not last for eternity. In contrast, following Jesus leads to an abundant life—the deep, rich life that comes from a relationship with the one who made us. When we attend to the word of God through prayer and regular devotion to the scriptures, when we meet Jesus in the sacraments of baptism and communion, when we intentionally build community with fellow believers, we will find ourselves rich toward God, living an abundant life that lasts for all eternity. 
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