Wealth is not Everything

In this Sunday's Gospel, we hear of the Parable of the Rich Fool. The story goes that a rich man, realizing how rich he had become and how extensive his produce had been, decided to pull down his old barns and build a larger one to fit all his abundant produce in. He even said to himself that now, since he has everything, he can stop working and enjoy his produce, enjoy life through drinking, eating, and merry-making.

Jesus once again is reminding us that wealth is not everything. Jesus us telling us that in life, the amount of "produce" that you have is immaterial to attaining happiness. Most of us think that if only we have all the wealth in the world, our lives would be different -- happier, livelier, and more meaningful. But Jesus is reminding us that that is not the case. For one to be truly happy, one must possess God for it is only God that can give true happiness, peace, and meaning.

Let us reflect then whether we have been busy the past week storing up earthly riches and neglecting the one most essential Being -- God. Let us pray then that unlike this Rich Fool, we may not only work for a progressive life but more importantly, a life pleasing and acceptable to God. Amen.