What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?

Gospel Thoughts

29th Week : Monday

GOSPEL Lk 12:13-21

First Reading - Eph 2:1-10

What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?

1) What Shall I do?

This is one of the important questions of our life. 

Many times in life we ask this question in various situations. 

Specially when we have crisis, challenges, when we are confused and when we fail in our strategies and plans.

2) The rich fool also asked this question

He asked this question when he had plenty of crops

First of all asking this question, *What shall I do with my crops* is very intelligible question. 

This question helps a person to arrange or to plan out the harvest which he got from his field. 

3) Rich fools strange plan

The plan became strange because

First of all he demolished his existing godowns. Instead of demolishing he should have built new ones. So waste of resources and energy

Secondly he store all the harvest in the barns. It is not easy to keep it in storage a huge amount of harvest since it may spoil or it may be eaten by ants or  worms. 

Thirdly he felt that he is the most luckiest person to get the crop and to store it for future.

Fourthly he felt in the future no other work than eating and enjoying life. So need not worry about anything. 

4) Evaluation of his plan by God

*First of all God considers him as great fool* and not a man of intelligence or wisdom. This is because of his foolish planning 

*Secondly God considered him as poorest of the poor person*

In spite of having lot of harvest he becomes very poor in Gods sight because, he had nothing to give to others. 

One who has something to give to others is a rich person. But this fool had nothing to give. 

*Thirdly he lacked common sense and practical knowledge*

This is because he considered with harvest he can live for ever. 

But in reality the harvest does not even give the guarantee to live one more day in our life. *You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you*. This is the reality. 

*Fourthly His life was limited only to wordly things*

Eat, drink and make merry for many years

Nothing else is found in his life. Life only limited to worldly things

5) Why He is addressed as Fool?

First of all for his foolish planning 

Secondly, he never realised of sharing of his crop with others 

Thirdly he never saw the hand of God in getting bumper crop 

Fourthly he not even thought of sharing with those who toiled in his farm to produce the fruit 

Fifthly he thought only about the self. Others were not existing for him 

Sixthly life consists  only in eating drinking and making merry. His security of life was the things. Nothing else

So he is really a fool 

6) What shall I do?

What shall I do with my energy? 

What shall I do with my talents 

What shall I do with my intelligence and knowledge?

What shall I so with my extraordinary leadership qualities?

What shall I do with my courage?

What shall I do with my wealth, property, money and costly things?

What shall I do with my power, position, authority, and influence?

What shall I do with my bodily passions and temptations? 

What shall I do with my responsibility and duties 

What shall I do with my family and children? 

*Will I decide or plan as the rich fool did?*

Or 

Will I plan in such a way where I will become a *good and faithful servant* and also rich and great in the sight of God??

Think about it.

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones

Fr Maxim Dsouza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore