The parable of the Rich Fool is one of Jesus’ most memorable parables on the sin of covetousness. It all begins when a man interrupts Jesus about a will dispute after Jesus has set his face steadfastly to Jerusalem. But it seems rather extreme for Jesus to spend a lot of time denouncing this one sin. Isn’t covetousness after all the tenth and last commandment, far back on the list of do’s and don’ts? Yet covetousness interrupts us as we follow Christ. So, what’s the antidote? The cross of Christ!

In Genesis, there’s the famous story of Abraham bargaining God down from judging Sodom and Gomorrah. And his questions to God—“wilt thou judge the righteous with the wicked? Wilt thou not spare the wicked for the sake of the righteous?”—echoes throughout the pages of Scripture and even into our hearts. Yet, God finally answers Abraham, but not in a way that we would imagine. And God’s answers has to do with the Cross of Christ.

Why is it so hard for us to receive gifts for one another? And from God?

We live in a world where everything can happen at the snap of a finger. Does this make us more impatient, less patient people? Yet, Abraham’s story is all about learning the art of waiting well. What can he teach us about waiting in faith, until the end? And what hope can we find in the Eucharist?

Our physical posture is one of those everyday things that has great formative impact on our bodies over time. So also, our spiritual posture greatly affects our formation into the image of Jesus Christ. Consider the different life postures presented to us in this story of two sisters, Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42). One has a posture ready to receive “the good portion” given from God. May it serve as a good example of what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

How do we know God loves us? Because he speaks to us --- which he didn't have to do. Lovers, after all, must communicate.

Physical distance is a real thing in our lives…even with modern technology. How do we deal with our physical distance from God?

Jesus tells us that the important question is not What must I do?, but Who must I become?

Many of us are understandably reticent about evangelism. Yet, the images of evangelism we have, and God’s description of Christ-loving and Christ-honoring evangelism are very different. Evangelism is all about proclaiming that the kingdom of God is here, both in word and deed.