American culture is, in many ways, a consumer culture. But what does it mean to be a consumer, and is being a consumer necessarily a bad thing? To be sure, consumerism is often equated with greed and the hoarding of resources. However, the biblical text paints a more complex picture about consumerism and materialism. Jesus suggests that our detachment from the stories of all those involved in creating the products we consider “our own” is at the heart of consumer culture. Importantly, the religion of Jesus offers another way through the cultivation of authentic and deep relationships. This teaching is best exemplified in the Eucharist where we learn how detachment from material things ought to lead to greater attachment to God, other human beings, and nonhuman nature.

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