Jesus expects his followers to renounce the ways of the world. The Gospel of Luke gives us two stories about people who base their security on wealth. In the story of the rich young man in Luke 18, and in the rich person from today’s Gospel, Jesus points out their possessiveness and their lack of concern for the needy. In contrast, Jesus calls all of us to trust not in our possessions but in God’s providence.
We will understand this parable better if we keep in mind that at the time of Jesus, people lived in immense hardship, under very harsh social and political conditions. Famine or land appropriation were a constant threat for subsistence farmers. They also suffered under excruciating taxation practices. With this background in mind, the landowner who stored his surplus crop, instead of helping to feed and support poorer farmers, would not have won the sympathy of Jesus' listeners.
Jesus is not condemning wealth, or those who work hard to provide for their families. The key point of today’s parable is his introduction: “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” And he concludes with this teaching: “Thus it will be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”
In our modern consumerist world, we are constantly bombarded by marketing wizards on TV, the Internet and social media. They dangle over us the products we allegedly need to make our lives complete. The end result is that we never quite feel that we have enough.
Notice what Saint Paul says in the Second Reading from his Letter to the Colossians. “Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”
Today’s readings challenge us with this question: What are we living for? What really matters in life? It is only in our relationship with Jesus that we can discover our true self – the person of value that Jesus calls us to be.
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Entrance Antiphon O God, Come to My Assistance (Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart and Curtis Stephan)
Let Us All Rejoice #151
This Entrance Antiphon is a humble expression of trust in God from Psalm 70: “O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me! You are my rescuer, my help; O Lord, do not delay.”
Entrance Chant Tend the Ground (Curtis Stephan)
Breaking Bread #624
The first verse of “Tend the Ground” speaks eloquently of today’s Gospel teaching: “As God provides our every need, with grateful hearts let us receive these gifts of love and make return to bless the world.”
Responsorial Psalm If Today You Hear His Voice, Harden Not Your Hearts (Ben Walther)
Spirit & Psalm 2025: p. 282
Letting go of our possessions is a difficult challenge. Ben Walther’s verbatim setting of Psalm 90 helps us to ponder the Scripture of this day.
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia: Mass of St. Mary Magdalene (Sarah Hart)
Spirit & Psalm 2025: p. 284
This acclamation verse from the Beatitudes focuses our attention to the proclamation of the Gospel.
Preparation of the Gifts Prayer of St. Francis (Sebastian Temple)
Spirit & Song #339; Never Too Young #136; Breaking Bread #510
During the summer, it’s always good to do well-known songs for liturgy so visitors and parishioners can easily sing along. This beloved classic helps us to reflect on Jesus’ teaching about life’s priorities.
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Communion Antiphon I Am the Bread of Life, Says the Lord [Option 2] (Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart and Curtis Stephan)
Let Us All Rejoice #153
Antiphon Option 2, from John 6:35, reminds us that the Eucharist satisfies our spiritual hunger and thirst.
Communion Chant In This Place (Trevor Thomson)
Spirit & Song #219; Never Too Young #18; Breaking Bread #308
Often sung as an Entrance Song, “In This Place” will be appropriate for Communion today as the verses sing of how Jesus fills our needs, even as he calls us to reach out and help him fill the needs of others.
Sending Forth All That We Have Seen (Sarah Hart)
Breaking Bread #383
As we go forth from this liturgy, we take what we have received from Christ and share it with the world.
Liturgy Blog is a weekly liturgy planning resource for musicians, liturgists, homilists, youth groups, faith sharing groups, and all who look to the liturgical readings for inspiration and nourishment. Join Ken Canedo as he breaks open the Scripture and suggests tracks from the Spirit & Song contemporary repertoire.
If you want to use songs that are not in any of the books you have, you can license the songs through ONE LICENSE. Paying for the usage of songs will ensure the Church will have quality songs for years to come.
