“So, it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:21
Dear members and friends,
The distribution and redistribution of wealth has been one of the core problems of the human community, probably from the very beginning. Essentially, there might not be a perfectly fair and just way to distribute wealth in a community, not even among siblings. The fundamental cause for this problem is not wealth itself, but the greed or selfishness dwelling in human hearts. In reflecting on this, I would like to share a story from Zen Speaks:
There was once a very wealthy man who was so miserly that he couldn’t bear to spend even a single cent of his vast wealth. One day, the Zen master Mokusen paid him a visit, and asked, “If I held my hand in a fist like this forever, what would you call it?” “Deformed,” answered the wealthy man. Mokusen asked again, “and if I opened it up like this and kept it this way forever, what would you call it?” “The same, deformed,” the wealthy man answered confidently. “As long as you understand this, you’ll be a happy rich man.” Mokusen declared as he was departing. From that day forward, the wealthy man became a generous man. He was still frugal, but he also understood how to spend money and contribute to charities.
The wealthy man learned from this conversation the truth about having a balanced life regarding the wealth he possessed. Storing away everything and living as a miser was a miserable life, while spending everything and living with maximum pleasures would also have led him to a miserable life. Zen Buddhists in ancient China pursued a way of life that is aligned with the way of Dao, which they believed was the way to enlightenment. In a much simpler form, Jesus explains this balanced life as “to store up our treasures not for ourselves, but for God.” The important matter is to know and understand what is in our hearts, because this truly determines who we really are, and not the things that we possess.
My brothers and sisters in God, let us take a moment of reflection this week. Let us take a good look at our own heart, and reflect on what is moving our hearts. Afterwards, let us come to the Lord in prayers asking, may the Divine lead our hearts to heaven.
Blessings,
Rev. Junchol Lee