We are God’s work of art
Ephesians 2:1-10
Luke 12:13-21
Today’s first reading ends with the statement: “We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it.” Paul never forgot who he was before he was called to Christianity. He never forgot that it was not his decision or his strength or holiness that converted him, but it was exclusively a choice by God. What came to Paul in a spectacular way also comes to all the Christians through baptized.
People who understand works of art place a very high value on them, something that may surprise those who do not understand them. A work of art is unique. It is fashioned with great care and dedication by the artist. It has a value for the artist, such that even in exchange for a lot of money, the artist feels as if something of himself or herself has been lost. It demands plenty of time, plenty of thinking, plenty of physical and mental energy. In producing a work of art there can be periods of frustration requiring perseverance. True artists are reluctant to part with their artifacts. In our case it is God himself who is the designer. Each of us is unique. Each of us is priceless. Each of us is beautiful, or at least has the potential to be beautiful, if cleaned of our sins.
Unfortunately, we all don’t have the character of St. Paul, who made a complete turnaround once he met with grace. We constantly mar God’s artistry by turning back to our old ways. We are offset by passing things instead of lasting values. In today’s gospel, Jesus warns us against avarice of any kind. He tells us that a person’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than what he needs.
To the wisdom of this world, what the man in the parable did sounds like foresight and economic prudence. When you get a good harvest, you don’t just give it away, in case the year after does not yield as much. Instead, you break the barns and build bigger ones so that you secure for the future. Many rich individuals and organizations have done just that, although in different forms. What we don’t seem to realize is that there is a future beyond the earthly future, and the only way to secure for that future is by making ourselves rich in the sight of God, through coming to the assistance of those who suffer wont by giving them from our present surplus. The Artist who continuously molds us ensures that those who, in obedience to him, entrust their cares to him and instead come to the rescue of the needy never really suffer wont.
