Ecc. 1:2; 2:21-23; Col. 3:1-5, 9-11; Lk. 12:13-21
This haunting question echoes the voice of Jesus in today’s Gospel: “And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (Luke 12:20).
In today’s Gospel the story begins innocently enough. A man approaches Jesus with what seems like a fair request: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” (v.13). It’s not unreasonable. Many of us, too, have been entangled in
inheritance disputes, sibling quarrels, or anxieties about money. But Jesus, knowing the deeper root, refuses to act as an arbitrator. Instead, He addresses the real issue—greed. “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (v.15)Jesus pierces through the superficial concern for justice and exposes a deeper disease: the illusion that more wealth equals more life.
To make His point clear, Jesus tells a parable of a man whose land produced abundantly—a success story by any standard. He faced a problem of prosperity: where to store his surplus. He built bigger barns. His goal is self-security and pleasure: “Relax, eat, drink, be merry.” (v.19)
But then comes the thunderclap: “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you.” (v.20). All the plans, the hoarding, the self-indulgent dreams—evaporated in an instant. And the final question lingers: “The things you have prepared, whose will they be?”
This theme echoes in the Bible. Ecclesiastes resounds with the same emptiness: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Solomon, who possessed immense wisdom and wealth, ultimately concluded that a life lived for gain alone is a chasing after the wind.
Psalm 49 offers a sobering reminder: “Do not be afraid when some become rich… for when they die, they will carry nothing away.” (vv. 16-17).
There once lived a great and powerful emperor who ruled a vast kingdom. He was known far and wide for his wealth, wisdom, and might. His palace walls were studded with gold, his treasuries overflowed with jewels, and countless servants attended to his every desire. Yet, as he grew old and frail, the emperor became restless and anxious. He had conquered all, yet one thing remained unconquered—death.
As his final days approached, he summoned his wise men and said, "When I die, I want you to do something unusual. I want my hands to be placed outside my coffin, palms open and empty."
The court was stunned. This was not how kings were buried. But the emperor insisted:
"Let all the world see that though I was born a king, and ruled as one, I leave this world empty-handed. Not a coin, not a jewel, not even a grain of sand can I take with me."
So it was done. When the emperor died, crowds gathered for his funeral. They saw the coffin carried through the streets, and from either side, the emperor's lifeless hands dangled in the air—open, empty, and powerless.
The Scriptures consistently remind us that material wealth is temporary, but spiritual wealth endures. In Matthew 6:19–21 Jesus says "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
1 Timothy 6:7 reminds us: "For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world."
Proverbs Teaches us: "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." (11:4)
Our saints understood the meaning of Being rich toward God. Consider St. Francis of Assisi, born into wealth, who famously stripped himself of all possessions to follow Christ in radical poverty. He understood that his soul needed more than material abundance; it needed divine love. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a vibrant young man from a rich family who spent his short life caring for the poor in Turin. Despite being heir to a fortune, he died with barely anything to his name—except the memory of hundreds he had served.
There are many people who practiced it in their lives. A few years ago, Dan Price, the CEO of a credit card processing company, shocked the business world by slashing his own salary to raise the minimum wage of his employees to $70,000. Many thought he was crazy. But in interviews, Price said he realized that the joy of lifting others far outweighed the joy of luxury. The company thrived. And more importantly, lives changed.
Being rich toward God does not require poverty; it requires priority.
In today’s world, where success is often measured by wealth, possessions, and status, we are reminded that being rich toward God is not about rejecting money but about redirecting our hearts. It means making God our first priority—allowing generosity to guide our finances, compassion to shape our relationships, and eternal values to influence our decisions. You don’t need to give everything away to follow Christ; you need to give Him first place. True richness is not found in what you have, but in who has your heart.
Satish