The flames came quickly in northern California, leaving residents of wine country little time to react. The waters came just as quick in the Florida Keys, Houston and Puerto Rico during this season of major hurricanes.
The images have been striking – as are those from earthquakes, tornadoes and terrorist attacks. Different days, different ways to die in a disaster.
One common theme? They didn’t have much time to gather their things.
You know, their … things.
Their stuff.
The fruits of their labor, which they had been storing in their homes or garages.
Today’s Gospel from Luke got me thinking about the things I store in my home. My electronics, my old newspapers and magazines (stacks and stacks), my old videotapes and way-too-much clothing, even things that no longer fit. That’s just me. My wife has her storage as well.
Across the United States, we are a nation of hoarders who spend too much money on too many things – and then too much effort at storing them.
We store so many things that the process of storage – and the subsequent demanding of our lives – has spawned an entire industry of opportunists who place bids on abandoned storage units in the hopes of striking it rich. There is even a TV show about this.
Why do we store up so many treasures on earth? In the end, as they say, you can’t take it with you. You entered this world naked and with nothing in your hands, you leave naked and with nothing in your hands.
The message of the Gospel is simple: Store up treasures in heaven, instead.
It was a lesson that a generation of Hebrews had to learn when they tried to store up too much of the manna that God had provided for food. The deal, according to Moses, was that each person could have a portion of the manna, but nothing more.
Some of the people decided to gather extra, thinking it would be wise, just in case.
By doing that, they were not only disobeying the orders of Moses, they were betraying a lack of faith that God will provide.
They learned; the leftover manna spoiled rather quickly with maggots and rot.
The fruits of our labor will also spoil if we try to store too much.
We need to give those fruits away. By doing so … by giving … we receive much in return.
I’m always reminded of the homily delivered by our pastor on that dreaded day of the “tithing talk” … when he looks up from the ambo and makes eye contact with the whole church.
“Trust me,” he would say. “I guarantee that if you tithe to your church, if you give to charity and share your wealth, you will earn more in return. If that is not the case by the end of the year, I will refund your money.”
It was quite a guarantee.
I never heard if anyone had ever asked for a refund. My guess is they either ended the year with more, or, the experience of giving to charity was so heart-warming and fulfilling, they couldn’t imagine asking for anything in return.
When we do these things …
A good deed every day.
Showing love for neighbors, friends and enemies.
Feeding the poor.
Befriending the lonely.
Comforting those imprisoned.
When we do these things … we store treasures in heaven.
So when the water rises, the flames bear down and the earth starts shaking … we can embark on our naked journeys to salvation without looking back in sorrow, but looking ahead with joy.
