Luke 12:19 — Community Reflections

LUKE 12:19 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well — the disciples' distinctive calling is the kingdom orientation that receives material provision as addition rather than pursuit. The Gentile world runs after food, drink, and clothing; the disciples walk toward the kingdom and find the necessities following them. The same God who clothes the flowers and feeds the ravens knows that the disciples need to eat and be clothed.

Church Fathers on Luke 12:19

Having said that the life of man is not extended by abundance of wealth, he adds a parable to induce belief in this, as it follows, And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.
Theophylact · 11th century

Not indeed about to reap any good from his plenty of fruits, but that the mercy of God might the more appear, which extends its goodness even to the bad; sending down His rain upon the just and the unjust. But what are the things wherewith this man repays his Benefactor? He remembered not his fellow-creatures, nor deemed that he ought to give of his superfluities to the needy. His barns indeed bursting from the abundance of his stores, yet was his greedy mind by no means…
Basil the Great · 4th century

O adversity, the child of plenty. For saying, What shall I do, he surely betokens, that, oppressed by the success of his wishes, he labors as it were under a load of goods.
Gregory the Great · 6th century

Read all 18 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!