Take care to guard against all greed

Jesus speaks strongly against all forms of greed. He warns His disciples against giving in to their cravings for material wealth. Life is not a matter of acquiring, appropriating, and owning property, movable and immovable. True disciples of Christ live simply. They cannot go far if they are encumbered by their acquisitions.

History tells us that greed is the cause of many broken relationships, conflicts, and wars. It is projected in our political and economic systems, local and global. Every year sees the rise of a few more billionaires, while millions are added to the ranks of those already wallowing in poverty.

Many individuals organize themselves to satisfy their greed. They hide their greed in their corporations, foundations, and investments. Their charity works are for show, a tiny token of their profits.

Many Catholics do not confess their greed. They do not recognize it as sin. So they never change. Disciples of Jesus guard themselves against all greed.

Gospel • LUKE 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed Me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then He said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then He told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And He said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”