Sunday, August 4, 2019

Treasure In Heaven


A teacher gave this math problem to her class:
A wealthy man died and left 10 million dollars. One fifth went to his wife, one fifth to his son, one sixth to his butler and the rest to charity. What does each person get?
A student answered – a lawyer!

I remembering my dad telling me about his will – everything is divided up evenly – I don’t want any problems after I am gone – I told him – Thank God.

How many times I have walked into wakes – the funeral director usually warns me - family fighting – people not talking to one another – almost always over money.

You can see how smart Jesus is – thy to drag him into a family dispute – I’m staying out of it – but then advise – avoid greed in all its forms.

Greed – from Greek – pleonexia – seeks more – never enough

Family put up hummingbird feeder – running out quickly – but then it slowed down – only filled once a week – a male bird had taken over – spent its days driving away every other bird – guard duty every minute – it lost its freedom – became possessed by his possession.

Hung Bishop Dom’s picture in the new Bishop Dom meeting room – would you like to hang anything else?   I’ll ger back to you.  Yes – I will put together some things – when I’m gone – who will care? Detachment!

Nothing wrong with possessions – but cannot let them possess us.

A few days I was in Stockholm, Sweden – home of the Nobel Museum. I was delighted and proud to see the featured exhibit was about Dr. King and his non-violent approach to civil rights.

The Nobel Prize is given each year to those who make exceptional contributions toward peace as well as the arts and sciences. Alfred Noble was a Swedish chemist who was best known for his invention of explosives. He licensed the formula for the creation of weapons. One day, his brother died, and the newspaper by mistake printed an obituary for Alfred instead of his brother.   He was identified as the inventor of dynamite, thus enabling armies achieve new levels of destruction. He was horrified. I will be remembered for that?

He took his fortune and established awards for those who contribute to life and to peace – this is what he is remembered for – how about us?