Rich in What Matters to God

08-03-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Augustine Acheme, VC

“What shall I do?” the rich man asks, staring at his abundance. He is not portrayed as dishonest or exploitative. He is simply comfortable- secure, self-reliant, satisfied. And yet, God calls him a fool. Not because of what he possessed, but because of what he lacked.

This man mistook full barns for a full life. He spoke only to himself, planned only for himself, and thought only of himself. He had everything- except wisdom. “This night your life will be demanded of you” (Luke 12:20). It is a sober reminder: wealth can buy many things, but not time, not peace, and certainly not eternity.

Qoheleth, in the first reading, calls it out plainly: “Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The pursuit of gain without God leaves us restless- even when we succeed. Our hearts were made for more.

St. Paul gives the antidote: “Seek what is above… Put to death the parts of you that are earthly” (Col 3:1, 5). This is not a call to despise the world, but to rightly order our lives. Christ is not an addition to life- He is life. When we live with that clarity, we are freed from the anxiety of accumulating and the illusion of control.

The Psalmist prays, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart” (Psalm 90:12). That is the prayer of the truly rich- not to live longer, but to live wiser. Not to accumulate more, but to love deeper.

In a culture obsessed with more, the Gospel confronts us with a simple question: What are you building? Bigger barns- or a bigger heart?

Jesus doesn’t condemn wealth, but He does challenge its place in our lives. When possessions possess us, we lose sight of eternity. But when we become “rich in what matters to God,” we discover a treasure that no moth can eat and no thief can steal.

So today, take inventory. Not of your bank account, but of your soul. What are you storing up? What will last beyond this life? Choose the riches that endure: mercy, generosity, gratitude, and love. That is the wealth heaven honors.

Fr. Augustine Acheme, VC