Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 12:13-21
October 17, 2022 | Monday

Today’s Gospel

Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus, “Master, tell my brother to share with me the family inheritance.” He replied, “My friend, who has appointed me as your judge or your attorney?” Then Jesus said to the people, “Be on your guard and avoid every kind of greed, for even though you have many possessions, it is not that which gives you life.” And Jesus continued, “There was a rich man, and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought, ‘What shall I do, for I am short of room to store my harvest? Alright, I know what I shall do: I will pull down my barns and I will build bigger ones, to store all this grain, which is my wealth. Then I will say to myself: My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you. Tell me, who shall get all you have put aside?’ This is the lot of the one who stores up riches for himself and is not wealthy in the eyes of God.”

Today’s Reflection:

When the rich fool was blessed by God with bountiful harvest (v. 16), he desired to increase his wealth all the more. Hence, he built larger barns in place of the existing ones and seemed to plan for a retirement so that he could rest, eat, drink and be merry (v. 19). He was completely unaware that his life would end anytime soon leaving his wealth behind. For Jesus, to be a true disciple, one should not devote one’s self to accumulating material wealth, but should rather live in holiness and virtues, which are the true spiritual riches. Similarly, if God blesses a person with material wealth, he or she should not set his or her heart on it, but should utilize it according to God’s will. What one receives from God should be shared with others as a blessing.  /Vulnerasti, 2022