11th Week of Pentecost

Acts 23:12-22
When day came, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who formed this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. You, together with the Sanhedrin, must now make an official request to the commander to have him bring him down to you, as though you meant to investigate his case more thoroughly. We on our part are prepared to kill him before he arrives.” The son of Paul’s sister, however, heard about the ambush; so he went and entered the compound and reported it to Paul. Paul then called one of the centurions and requested, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to report to him.” So he took him and brought him to the commander and explained, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked that I bring this young man to you; he has something to say to you.” The commander took him by the hand, drew him aside, and asked him privately, “What is it you have to report to me?” He replied, “The Jews have conspired to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they meant to inquire about him more thoroughly, but do not believe them. More than forty of them are lying in wait for him; they have bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready and only wait for your consent.” As the commander dismissed the young man he directed him, “Tell no one that you gave me this information.”

Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!” But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

Just as the plotters plotted against God so do we plot against God when we pursue money and possessions rather than divine things. We should not use our energy to pursue wealth, but rather to pursue God and His love and glory in the world.

Lord, do not let the wolf enter into your sheepfold to devour the sheep marked with your seal,
but protect us with your merciful right hand,
and save us from the enemy.
Keep the snares of the devil far from us,
and drive away all evil spirits.
Let no obscure thoughts fill us,
but rather grant us, asleep or awake, to persevere in what is pleasing to you,
and to store up deeds of goodness and light for the great and awesome Day.
Then we shall be counted among those who inherit the heavenly and eternal joys,
in that place of light where neither darkness nor trouble can penetrate,
and we shall glorify you, your Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen.