Our  gospel reading today offers us one of the most sobering parables in all of Scripture – the parable of the rich fool. At first glance, it may appear to be simply a warning against greed. But as we listen more deeply, we realize it’s about something far more profound: the question of what truly matters in life, and where we place our trust. Jesus is approached by someone in the crowd who says, “Tell my brother to give me a share of the inheritance.” But Jesus refuses to be drawn into a financial dispute. Instead, he tells a parable that shifts the focus from external possessions to the condition of the human heart. We meet a wealthy man whose land has produced a bountiful harvest. Rather than thanking God or considering the needs of others, the man speaks only to himself: “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.” His solution? Build bigger barns. And then, he says to his soul, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Eat, drink, and be merry!” But God calls him a fool. Not because he is rich, but because he has mistaken his wealth for security. He has forgotten that life itself is a gift – not guaranteed, not controlled, but held always in God’s hands. The parable is not an attack on wealth itself. Rather, it is a challenge to our relationship with it. What makes the man foolish is not that he is successful, but that he is utterly self-centred. He uses the word “I” or “my” over ten times in this short passage. He does not speak to God, he does not consider others, he does not give thanks. His world is small – filled only with himself. And so Jesus warns: “So it is with those who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

What does it mean to be rich toward God?

• It means putting our trust not in our possessions, but in God’s providence.
• It means using what we have – our time, our gifts, our resources – for others, especially those in need.
• It means living not just for comfort and security, but for love and service.
• It means remembering that our lives are not measured by what we own, but by how we love.

St. Paul, in today’s second reading, says: “Set your minds on things above, not on things of earth.” That doesn’t mean we ignore our responsibilities or pretend material needs don’t matter. It means we recognize what lasts and what does not. Our bank accounts, our homes, our possessions – these all pass away. But love remains. Faith remains. Generosity, kindness, forgiveness – these are eternal treasures. So today, the Lord asks us to take stock. Not just of what we have, but of who we are becoming. Are we growing rich in the things of God? Are we building bigger barns for ourselves, or building up the Kingdom of Heaven? Let us pray for the grace to live wisely, to give generously, and to store up treasures that will not fade.