by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice
With the rise of secularism, sadly, many fail to acknowledge the fact, as Pope Benedict XVI reminds us in Charity in Truth, that all that we have is “gift” from God.
We live in a world in which individualism, selfishness, greed and materialism lead many to believe that what is important in this life is storing up wealth here on earth and keeping it all so that they can have a good time – like the rich man in today’s Gospel (Luke 12:13-21) who plans to build bigger barns to store up his “treasures” here on earth and then “take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time”.
We know what God says to him. The parable of the rich fool is a warning to us to get our priorities right. God is not telling us not to make enough money to meet our needs and those of our families. Indeed, we have a duty to do so. However, we should not be concerned to store up treasures for ourselves on earth while failing to make ourselves “rich in the sight of God“.
He has a plan for us; that we should use the resources of the earth for the benefit of all; to build the common good – creating conditions in which each person can realise his/her potential. Today’s Gospel reminds us that we should use our wealth – time, talent and treasure – for the benefit of others also.
Fr George Smiga tells the story of John D Rockefeller who “when he died at the age of 98 at the beginning of the twentieth century, was the wealthiest man in the world. And a reporter who was assembling his obituary asked his chief aide, ‘Just how much did your boss leave behind?’ The aide answered, ‘All of it.’ The same is true for us. We will leave behind whatever we do not invest above. And how sad would it be, at the time of our death, if our bank account and coffers here on earth were bulging full and our storehouse in heaven was empty and bare?”
There are many in our archdiocese who share their time, talent and treasure freely in order to build “the civilisation of love” (see the Archdiocese’s mission statement). Today I want to pay tribute to one person whose commitment to sharing the gifts she has received from God shines like a beacon in our land – Josephine Anne Lodge, or Jo Anne, as she is fondly called. Her storehouse in heaven is filling up fast. She has a heart for volunteerism and offers her gifts freely not only to CCSJ and her parish, but to many NGOs and community groups.
Of the many who support CCSJ voluntarily, I single out Jo Anne because today, August 1, she and her husband, Dunstan Jr, celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Marriage requires constant effort if a husband and wife are to live a life of complementarity. As Jim Rohn writes: “Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.”
Jo Anne and Dunstan have two children, Jodun and Alexa. She runs a business and still finds time to volunteer her services. With the unstinting support of Jo Anne Lodge and Joanne Miller, another stalwart in the Catholic community who shares her talents freely, CCSJ has been able to develop and implement the Values and Virtues Formation Programme in our Catholic primary schools. These two women of faith are also totally committed to assist CCSJ in planning Respect for Life Week (Sept 26 – Oct 3).
We should celebrate couples such as Jo Anne and Dunstan, who have succeeded in honouring their matrimonial vows for 25 years and who continue to strengthen their family life. As Pope John Paul II said in his Apostolic Exhortation (1981),
“…the family is the first and vital cell of society…Just as the intimate connection between the family and society demands that the family be open to and participate in society and its development, so also it requires that society should never fail in its fundamental task of respecting and fostering the family.”
Let us help our families to become what they are. Happy Anniversary, Jo Anne and Dunstan! May God’s unfolding love fill and sustain you, and may He bless you and your family in a special way as you journey through life together.
