Once upon a time, two families came to a Rabbi, wanting him to settle a dispute over boundaries over their land. He listened to the members of one family as they recounted how they had received this land as their inheritance from their ancestors and how it had been in their family for generations. They had maps and papers to prove it. Then, the Rabbi listened to the other family. Its members described how they had lived on the same land for years, working and harvesting it.
They claimed that they knew the land intimately and that it was their land. They didn't have papers to prove it, but they had calluses and sore backs and the harvest and the produce of the land. The Rabbi looked at them both and backed away from between them. They turned on him and said, "Decide, Rabbi, who owns this land."
But the Rabbi knelt on that land and put his ear to the ground, listening. Finally, he stood up and looked at both families. He said, "I had to listen to both of you, but also had to listen to the land, the center of this dispute, and the land has spoken. It has told me this: "Neither of you owns the land you stand on. It is the land that owns you."
Knowing More or Less
People ask pastors and priests a wide range of questions, from biblical and theological inquiries to more unusual requests and questions. Often, people will call with a follow-up query about a topic that cropped up in a homily. Sometimes, pastors feel ill-equipped to respond to these unusual requests, as they may not know more about the matter than the next person.
Today's Gospel reading presents a similar moment. A man comes to Jesus, not seeking spiritual guidance but practical arbitration over an inheritance. He doesn't ask for wisdom; he demands a resolution. Like the families disputing over land, his focus is fixed on what he thinks he is owed.
Centuries back, when Moses had been embroiled in an argument between two Hebrews and was questioned back, "Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us" (Exodus 2:14a)? Jesus, aware of this, quoted in a similar fashion, "Friend, who appointed Me as your judge and arbitrator" (Luke 12:14)?
Seeking Justice
There is this instinct in every man to seek justice. To get even. We all have moments when we feel we deserve more, whether from our families, our work, or even from God. We might not always say it out loud, but in our hearts, we can become fixated on what we don't have and are not given rather than being grateful for what we do. This man's problem wasn't just that he wanted justice from his brother but that he couldn't see past his desire for more.
He felt he was entitled to a share of the estate. He wanted Jesus to help him to resolve his quarrel with his brother. How often do we still hear of siblings fighting over their parents' estate because they felt they did not get their fair share?
However, Jesus did not deal with the specific issue raised. Instead, He helped the man to see the more significant issue underlying his demand for justice.
What's Really Going On
The underlying reasons were greed, selfishness, and attachment. Although he was legally entitled to a share of the inheritance, did he truly need it to find happiness in life?
Jesus challenges us to look deeper. Is it possible that the pursuit of fairness, the hunger for more, comes from a place of dissatisfaction with what we already have? Could it be that our attachment to material things blinds us to the richness of life that God offers us in simplicity, in relationships, and in faith? As we reflect on this passage, let us ask ourselves: Are we owned by the things we seek, or are we allowing God to free us from those attachments to find true peace?
- Father Boby's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
