WORLDLY RICHES OR ETERNAL HAPPINESS?
Introduction: Wealth and other mundane possessions have a big hold over the human mind and heart. But when we are preoccupied with material possessions, we often forget the most important things in life. In the parable of the rich fool, Jesus challenges us to be more concerned about being rich in the sight of God. It contains a warning against all kinds of greed and undue attachment to the goods of this world.
First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2 and 2: 21 to 23
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1 to 5 and 9 to 11
Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 13 to 21
*First reading is from the book of Ecclesiastes. It narrates the immense troubles we often undertake to acquire material wealth, even though it brings us little safety and security. Life makes no sense if it has no deeper goal than achieving worldly possessions and success. Because this world and all it holds are nothing but sheer folly and emptiness in the sight of the Lord God. Look at the toil and effort a person puts into acquiring wealth. To what purpose is the question?
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians. Paul reminds the Christian community at Colossia and all of us that we are a new creation in Christ. We have to turn our attention from worldly things and seek the things of heaven. Because, having been raised up with Christ in baptism, we have to keep God as the center of our lives and avoid the things that prevent us from eternal joy. Therefore, we must seek the things that are above by leading a good life in this world.
The parable of the rich fool Today's Gospel passage for our reflection is from St. Luke. Through the parable of the rich fool, Jesus illustrates the foolishness of those who go after worldly riches, forgetting God and fellow humans. This parable is told in the context of a dispute between two brothers. One of them asks Jesus to mediate and divide their inheritance between them. Jesus reminds him and all of us that life is much more than the abundance of a person's possessions. Then Jesus tells the parable of the rich man. He is immensely wealthy and yet he desires to store up his bumper crops for greater security and happiness. Jesus calls him a fool because he neglected the three important factors for a real and lasting happiness: 1. He forgets God - he does not even have a little thought that all his possessions are gifts from the Almighty. 2. He forgets eternal life - he is merely looking for temporal and peripheral happiness in this world. 3. He totally ignores his obligation to the poor and the needy in his surroundings. This parable seriously warns everyone of us to take stock of the things and possessions in our daily lives in the context of eternal life. In this context Mahatma Gandhi says: "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." St. Augustine says: "Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure is, there is your heart; where your heart is, there is your happiness." An unknown writer says: "Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have."
Conclusion: The parable of Jesus is not directed only at the rich. It is directed at each of us, for anyone can be bitten by the bug of greed. A poor person can be just as greedy as a wealthy person, maybe even more greedy. It is not how much you possess that is dangerous but your attitude towards what you possess. Fr. Carrol makes this remark in the context of the parable of the rich fool. 'Even if the rich man in the parable did not suddenly die but continued to live, he was already dead. The moment he became greedy, he died to the only kind of life worth living.' Jesus challenges us to re-examine our priorities and the way we use our possessions. He invites us to grow rich in the sight of God, instead of amassing wealth for ourselves.
May the Lord Jesus, who teaches us that true happiness is not having immense possessions but in having faith in the providence of God, bless you abundantly and bring you true happiness and eternal joy. Amen.
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, August 3, 2025." Thanks.)
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