Grace to you from the mystery in whom we live and breathe and have our being. For one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.
Where you are
Most people are familiar with the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal son wants his share of the family inheritance immediately so he can leave home and enjoy. The son believes the only thing that separates him from a good life is money.
Like the prodigal son, the brother in Luke is asking Jesus to instruct his brother to give him half of his family inheritance so he can enjoy his life.
Perhaps he could be called the prodigal brother.
It wasn’t uncommon to seek a rabbi to settle disputes. The problem for the brother was not merely Jesus refusing to do his bidding. It was that Jesus was operating on God’s economy not the brother’s economy. A worldly economy is about acquiring enough money to provide power, status and individual freedom. The kingdom of God economy is not about what you have, it’s about where you are.
future happiness
Take for example, the parable about the man who owned a farm and had so many crops he built bigger barns to contain both his exploding harvest and other acquired possessions. The man lived in his future potential for happiness.
The story recites the man saying, “I will” and “my” repeatedly revealing his preoccupation with self. The farmer said, “I will tear down my barns, “and then” I will store more crops, “and then” I will say to my soul, you have a lot of good things to last the rest of your life. “And then” I will say to my soul, eat, drink, rest, and enjoy.
Because he lives in his future happiness, he is unable to live in the abundance of the present. If he shares with others, it may rob him of his future life of lavishness. He has hit a good crop jackpot, and it seduces him into a desire for more.
Seeking to acquire wealth is what the Romans called drinking seawater. The more you drink, the thirstier you get.
We are very susceptible to putting off living just like this man. We say, “when I get this job then I’m going to really live.” “When I’m in a relationship, then I’m going to really live.” When I get a vacation then I’m going to really live.” It’s as if our happiness comes from Best Buy. I got the new device and I’m happy. Then there’s an upgrade and I’m sad. Joy is a feature of living in the abundance of God. Happy feelings are conditional upon changing conditions.
Like the crop owner, we may at times live in a state of “and then.”
The final “and then” comes from the one who is the source of abundance. The One who invites us to dwell in the present forever. Where the treasures dearest to our heart will not gather dust and moths. Because as a child of God we never need to settle for half of an inheritance. Our divine parent owns it all. Living life on our own terms for future happiness will eventually end in “and then” I will die.
Okay now things got a little dark. But isn’t it true?!
Abiding Abundance
Waiting to live is a dark existence. Abiding in the abundance of the moment will open our eyes to the life we are living.
Like myself, anyone who has faced a journey with cancer or any chronic condition, eventually is faced with a choice to dwell on the life they wish they had or embracing fully the life they have.
So, it should be for all people who seek true happiness.
In his book, Awareness, Anthony De Mello says, “Happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and contaminated by the stupidity of society and culture. To acquire happiness, you don’t have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired. Does anybody know why? Because we have it already. How can you acquire what you already have? Then why don’t you experience it? Because you’ve got to drop something. You’ve got to drop illusions. You don’t have to add anything to be happy; you’ve got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It’s only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings.
Present Abundance
To live in the present abundance of our lives is what it means to be seated in heavenly places. To be like a child who lives in awe.
The neighbor who will not share his bread has been inconvenienced. Especially if it was sour dough bread from Blue Corn Bakery in Glendale!
The prodigal son wanted his portion of his inheritance so he could leave home and have what he thought was freedom. No matter how much we acquire, we will find it does not match the abundance we have by dwelling in the home of God’s abundance.
Our possessions are always only a portion of abundance. It is as this farmer said, “a lot” but it is never true abundance.
In the prodigal son, the father celebrates his son’s return home, but the older son is resentful because he stayed home. Though he did not leave and take his early inheritance, he also was not living in the abundance of where he was. The father tells him, “All that I have is yours.”
This would have been a head slapping moment for the wayward son. Abundance not with possessions, but with the love of family and community and the connection to the source who has everything we need.Like the farmer and the neighbor guarding their anxious souls from the fear of being deprived, so is our culture today. A society that guards their souls with illusory freedom, selfish ambition and social standing built on sand.
Live Abundantly
To possess abundance is not the same as living in abundance. To live abundantly, regardless of our circumstances is the hallmark of a Jesus follower.
If someone asked me for the sourdough bread I just purchased from Blue Corn Bakery it might be a threat to my happiness, just like it was to the neighbor in the parable. However, I reside near the source where the bread comes from. Living in connection with the source should free me to share it with others. Maybe that’s a weak analogy but you get what I’m saying. “Live in the source of abundance of life!”
“I came that you might have life, and you might have it abundantly” – John 10:10
Amen
Wednesday Respite is a 30-min contemplative service of scripture, prayer, music and a Spirited Touchpoint by Henry Rojas, spiritual director at Spirit in the Desert.
Touchpoint is a reflection on where God’s story touches our life story. It is a short homily based on a biblical story of people in the Old and New Testaments and their relationship with God. Our spiritual ancestors’ experience of God’s grace connects with our lives in the present and our relationship with the Divine. Previous Touchpoints are available as PDFs or on SoundCloud.
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