When it comes to crime and punishment in Scripture, it is much better to be like wheat … not so good to be like chaff.
Wheat is the choice “fruit of the grain” that nourishes. By our actions and good works, we should want to nourish others like wheat. We should want to be “consumed” so that we will live forever – the way Christ in the Eucharist lives in us when we consume Him at Mass.
We should not aspire to be chaff.
Chaff is far from the fruit of the grain. Instead it is the waste that is separated from the wheat by “winnowing and threshing” which simply sounds painful!
Today’s readings – all three of them to be exact – are clear teachings on the crime and punishment aspect of God and God’s justice.
In the Psalm, for example, we hear that the wicked in this world are like chaff, which the wind will drive away.
And in our first reading, the prophet Jeremiah reminds us that we cannot hide our works from the Lord. Bad or good, he knows what is in our hearts.
I, the Lord alone, probe the mind and test the heart, to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.
I see this as a pretty clear teaching that we must do good works and follow the teachings of our faith or face our punishment … the wrath of God.
It calls to mind that scene in the Clint Eastwood movie, Unforgiven, when the young cowboy, after shooting a bad guy to death is suddenly wracked with guilt and says to Clint Eastwood, “I guess he had it coming.”
And Eastwood replies, “We all have it coming, kid.”
Scripture is filled with stories of those who “had it coming.”
Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden. Cain is punished and forced to labor for his existence. The serpent who tricked Eve is banished to creep and slither for the rest of creation.
Sara, the wife of Abraham, is struck dumb because she giggled at God’s prophecy of bearing a child. Lot’s wife is turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Egypt suffers the punishment of the plagues and Judas is punished for betrayal of Christ.
Clearly, God is not shy when He metes out punishment. As Job says, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Lord!
Where does that leave us today?
If you read today’s Gospel from Luke – or many similar stories of rich men who bask in the glory of the earthly wealth but do nothing for the poor and less fortunate – you might just think it is a sinful thing to be rich.
This story certainly paints a painful picture of what could happen to a greedy rich person. One can just imagine the suffering of having a tongue of fire with no cool water to quench. Keep in mind the words of Jeremiah. God probes the mind and tests the heart. We may think we know those who live lives of the rich and famous, but only God knows for sure.
Charity is love. And we must love one another. Therefore, we must be charitable to one another as well. So how in the world do wealthy people live with themselves? Shouldn’t they be giving away all their money? Is it a sin to have too much money in the bank?
The answer, of course, is no. While there are many great virtues to living a life of poverty, there are also many examples of wealthy individuals whose charity helped build our churches, sustain our parishes and help our Church feed, house and care for the poor – all over the world.
Thomas Merton, in one of his books, once wrote about the disdain he felt when visitors to the Trappist monastery would join the monks for a meal. What right do they have to be at the table, he would ponder as a young monk; shouldn’t we instead invite the poor and needy?
In time, as Merton gained wisdom, he came to realize that men are not defined by the numbers in their bank accounts. And these very men were among those who helped sustain the facilities Merton and his brother monks used for their mission to pray for the world.
In our adult faith formation ministry at our suburban parish, the topic of wealth is often raised in group discussion. Highly successful people, corporate CEO’s, business owners – they often struggle with the question: Do I give enough?
Jesus often reminds us that if we give to the poor, we will receive our reward in heaven. Clearly, the rich man in our Gospel today did not get that message.
But it’s true. Successful people who tithe to the Church, to charities or to the needy within their own circles of life, are bound to receive even more in return.
Not just more … but an overflowing abundance of more.
One of my favorite pastors long ago used to make this part of his homily when the “dreaded money talk” had to be made each year. Making eye contact with those in the Church, he would lean toward them and say something like this:
“Look, I know it seems difficult, but I promise you … if you tithe to the Church, I guarantee – GUARANTEE – that God will give it back to you by the end of the year.”
And he did not stop there.
“I am so certain of this … if you do this and you do NOT get that returned, I will give you your money back. Guaranteed.”
I never knew how well this appeal worked. But … the parish has never stopped growing; and it now includes a free-standing medical clinic for the poor, un-insured and under-insured … right next door to the free food pantry.
So, the doctors and lawyers and CEOs of that parish – and many other parishes – have no doubt stepped up to help build a house where God can do His work through his people.
And no doubt, they continue to be successful in their work. How much are they giving back to God? Well, that’s between them and Him. But the formula works. If you have not tried it, this Lenten season might just be the perfect time to do so.
So, let us pray to not be like chaff.
Let us not be blown away like the wind, but instead, to be a fruitful tree …
… Like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.
