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 18^th Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: How to Satisfy the Longings of the Human Heart

Readings: Sir 1:2; 2:21-23; Col 3:1-5. 9-11; Lk 12:13-21

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, on this eighteenth Sunday of the year, the Church addresses a subject that lies at the core of our hearts. She invites us to reflect over the means by which we seek to satisfy the deep longings and inner desires of our hearts. Do these means provide us with lasting satisfaction? Can they offer us a fulfilment that goes beyond the grave?

In his book ‘Being and Nothingness’, Jean-Paul Sartre elucidated that the being-for-itself is a being of consciousness. Due to this being’s awareness of its surroundings, it consistently recognizes its incompleteness, and in its quest for wholeness, it seeks to transcend what it is to become what it is not. Between what it is (its current state) and what it wants to be (its aspirations) lies a void that yearns to be filled. Sartre referred to this void as ‘Nothingness’: a lack, an emptiness. This being is the being of man. For Sartre, the essence of man is defined by the nothingness or emptiness within him that seeks fulfilment. Within man exists a void or lack in his heart that continually drives him to strive for what he is not, a nothingness that compels him to pursue higher aspirations and achieve greater accomplishments in life. Economists might refer to this ‘nothingness’ as the insatiability of man.

The readings for today prompt us to examine the various means we employ to address the void that resides within the human heart, that yearning or desire inherent in mankind.

The wise teacher in today's first reading shared the numerous methods he utilized to fill/satisfy the nothingness/emptiness of his heart. Let us explore some of these approaches.

First, he sought to find fulfilment through wisdom and the quest for knowledge (Sirach 1:16-18). However, he soon realized that with each piece of knowledge he gained, he felt an increasing need to learn even more. Ultimately, the pursuit of knowledge did not provide the satisfaction his heart craved. Furthermore, he discovered that the same death awaits both the learned and the foolish.

Subsequently, he turned to the pursuit of pleasure, hoping it would bring him the satisfaction he sought (Sirach 2:1-3). He indulged in food and drink to excess, yet the more he consumed, the greater his desire became for new experiences; this led him to indulge himself more and more in pleasure. Disappointingly, he found that the same death awaited both those who feasted abundantly and those who were in want, leaving him disillusioned. In summary, pleasure failed to satisfy the emptiness/longing within his heart.

Then, he dedicated himself to diligent labour as a way to fulfil the desires of his heart (Sirach 2:4-6). He constructed mansions and bridges; however, the more he built them, the more innovative ideas for enhancing his constructions flooded his mind, preventing him from enjoying the fruits of his labour. This endeavour brought him greater troubles and anxieties rather than fulfilment.

Finally, he then devoted himself to the accumulation of wealth as a means to satisfy his soul. He took many wives, owned slaves, and ruled over empires, yet all his riches brought him more stress and distraction than he had anticipated.

After experimenting with various material possessions, he concluded that they did not provide enduring satisfaction for the emptiness/longing within his heart. Consequently, he proclaimed all material possessions as vanity. The lesson is quite simple. While material possessions may offer temporary satisfaction, the lasting fulfilment that our hearts crave cannot be derived from transient items, namely, material goods. Although material possessions may provide a sense of security in this life, they cannot sustain us indefinitely; they cannot secure our life in eternity. In today’s gospel, Jesus emphasized this point. He stated, "a person’s true life does not depend on the things he possesses" (Lk 12:15). Material wealth cannot secure our hearts, because it does not accompany us beyond the grave; the satisfaction it offers is fleeting and ultimately vanishes like smoke. The deep yearning of our hearts transcends what material possessions can offer.

The author's experience in the first reading mirrors that of numerous individuals in our contemporary world. In an effort to fulfil the deep-seated desires of their hearts, some individuals have dedicated their entire lives to the quest for material riches; others believe that excessive consumption of wine will achieve this; some assume that true satisfaction is found in nightclubs and various social events; others think it comes from making new friends; some others still believe it is derived from gaining political influence, etc. However, we should know that ‘oriri na onunu nke uwa abughi ebe ndu di; ikpa aku na mma nke uwa abughi ebe ndu di. Ndu di n’aka Chukwu, ihe anya na-ahu na-eduhie uwa, uwa amaghi na Chukwu nke igwe bu ebe ndu di.

The gospel reading of today presented the example of a man who believed that acquiring material possessions would secure his life, protect his heart from worries, and provide him with enjoyment. However, dear friends, Jesus informed us that the man was mistaken in his belief, because the accumulation of material wealth does not safeguard a person's heart and life, nor does it offer the ultimate satisfaction that our hearts seek. "A person’s true life does not depend on the things he possesses," Jesus said (Lk 12:15). Let us look at what that man said, "Then I will say to myself, Lucky man, you have all the good things that you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself." He was under the impression that his material wealth would keep him alive forever. He believed that material possessions would provide him with everlasting satisfaction. But God said to him, "You fool! This night you will have to give up your life." Subsequently, Jesus remarked, "This is how it will be for those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God’s sight."

We can categorize that man as a member of the group known as ‘ndi aku na-esi obi ike’, meaning those who think their wealth, beauty, strength, or political and societal status can accomplish everything for them; those who fail to look beyond their riches; and those who do not consider anything beyond this world. Numerous individuals, including many Christians, have become so engrossed in material wealth that they seldom contemplate God and heaven. For them, heaven has become an outdated tale, believed only by the foolish. However, this notion is false.

Dear friends, Jesus urges us to be wealthy in the sight of God even as we seek material wealth; He desires that we keep God in mind as we relish our material possessions and esteemed statuses, for material riches and elevated positions cannot guarantee eternal life, nor will they completely fulfil the emptiness within our hearts. 'Gi hapu Chukwu kpaa aku, gi agbara aka laa muo' (if you forsake God amidst your pursuit for riches, you will depart to the realm of the dead empty-handed).

The second reading addresses this matter directly. In it, Paul enumerates the elements that those who have faith in Christ cannot rely on to fulfil the voids or desires of their hearts. For believers in Christ, their source of fulfilment should derive from heavenly matters rather than sinful pursuits/things. Consequently, they ought to concentrate their thoughts on higher things, rather than on earthly matters. The fulfilment of the heart's desires for Christians, as articulated by Paul, should not stem from worldly cravings, fornication, nightlife, impurity, shameful passions, malevolent desires, greed, idolatry, or deceit. Indeed, Saint Paul admonished all Christians to eradicate everything within them that pertains solely to earthly existence.

Dear friends, the fulfilment of a Christian is derived from leading a life centred on Christ, a life that reflects the presence of Christ. If you delve deeper into this second reading, Saint Paul highlights the qualities that should bring contentment to the emptiness often felt in the hearts of Christians—lifestyles that enrich us in God. He enumerates these qualities as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, and peace. Through these virtues, Christians can truly live a life centred on Christ.

A life centred on Christ can also be embraced by those who seek material wealth. When they prioritize God at the heart of their enterprises, allowing divine values to shape their business ethics, they will experience inner fulfilment and lead a Christ-centred life.

The wealthy can also discover enduring satisfaction in their riches if they remember to embody compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, generosity, and holiness amidst their wealth.

In conclusion, dear friends, in your riches, beauty, political or social standing, or even in your poverty, always strive to maintain a close relationship with God through prayer. Such intimacy will provide fulfilment to the longing of your heart.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima.