NOTES for Luk 12:13-21

This parable is humanity’s dream: to gather as much as possible, insure ourselves against every misfortune, and cushion every possible fall so that nothing can destroy our prosperous existence. The whole development of civilization is built upon this desire: after working, to gather everything into the barn and feel independent of what is happening. When speaking with people, one constantly encounters confidence that this is possible and that, if this goal cannot be achieved, it can be regarded as a misfortune and complete defeat in the struggle for the barn. Nevertheless, the problem is that this illusion is the first thing to perish, not merely upon encountering reality, but even upon taking a closer look at what is happening around us. One attentive glance is enough to see that the only guarantee for a person is not to fill a barn, but to grow into God, which Jesus Himself described as the life of branches on the vine, so that no storm can tear us away from Him. This is the only prescription He gives us for life in the world.