TwentyFifth Sunday after Pentecost 2023

Peter H. Davids

Byzantine Catholic Homilies • Sermon • Submitted 5 months ago • Presented 5 months ago

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The rich fool thinks prudently, but only within the context of himself and his proximal future. So he is a fool. Paul tells us to think within the context of humility and unity of the body of Christ and of our unity in the Spirit with the Father who is in and through all. When we act in that context our action has ultimate value that endures.

Notes

Transcript

The Holy Prophet Obadiah; The Holy Martyr Barlaam

Title

Living Humble and in Unity vs the Rich Fool

Outline

What do you think about when you hear the Rich Fool?

His income in honest income - his fields did super well

He thinks with prudence - it might not be so good next year, so save for a rainy day - build bigger barns

He is aware of his good situation and relaxed

But God says that he is a fool - he is living in the light of proximal values, not ultimate values, so all the security he has, all he has gathered, will be lost that very night.

The problem is that he is focused on himself and on the relative near future.

Paul gives us eternal value

He says, “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called” - a life in the light of divine values

This is characterized by “lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Notice that the focus is on the other. The virtues are those of relationship. Unity and love are involved in seeking the good of the other. It is the other that the Rich Fool did not think about.

So one must make all plans in the context of a unity: unity of the church militant and triumphant, unity of hope, unity of Lord, unity of God and Father who is above, through and in all, including all of our plans and goals.

Faith is not something in a compartment; it is our life

Faith is not something for part of our lives, for the religious compartment, for the afterlife, for some other compartment.

Faith commitments control the whole of our life so that it revolves around God who is all and through all and in all.

And that means that whatever we do in that light of solidarity with the body of Christ and unity with God has meaning and purpose whether we live or whether we die, for it is done within the context of the One.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-26-2023: Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE

Ephesians 4:1–6

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-19-2023: Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

GOSPEL

(26th Sunday)

Luke 12:16–21

16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (11-19-2023: Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023 | OCTOECHOS

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-26-2023: Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Dark Vestments

Matins Gospel Mark 16:9–20

Epistle Ephesians 4:1–6

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-19-2023: Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Gospel Luke 12:16–21 (26th Sunday)

Orthodox color RED

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