Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time, October 20, 2025

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."

Reflection

"Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." This line stood out to me because it reminded me of a stark truth, that when our time on earth ends, none of our belongings will come with us. We often spend so much of our lives chasing comfort, success, and security, believing these material things will bring lasting happiness. Yet none of that will matter come judgement day as none of that truly defines who we are or where our worth lies.

The parable of the rich man continues this message. In the story the rich man’s land produces an abundant harvest, and instead of sharing or giving thanks, he becomes consumed with storing it all for himself. He tears down his barns to build bigger ones, seeking long term comfort and security...“Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”. However, Jesus responds to Him saying...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".

The rich man wasn’t condemned for being successful, but for being self-serving and storing up treasures for himself rather than becoming “rich in what matters to God.” This makes me ask the question, what truly matters to God? And where is my treasure truly found?