Skip to content

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

The Parable of the Rich Man: Becoming Rich in What Matters To God

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
Becoming rich in what matters to God is the key to true, lasting peace and happiness

What leads to permanent and lasting happiness? As Jesus points out, becoming "rich in what matters to God" is the key. When we place God first, and love our neighbor as another self, we soon begin to experience a perceptible, lasting happiness that is not of this world. It is "other-worldly" because it does not originate from our interior, from creatures or material possessions, but from God himself, whose bountiful love fills us with true and lasting peace, joy and happiness.

Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

span style="line-height: 1.22;">GLADE PARK, CO (Catholic Online)--In the Gospel (Lk 12:13-21), Jesus is questioned about a familial inheritance dispute. He offers a parable in order to teach about the dangers of the capital sin of greed--the capital sins are thus named because they tend to engender other sins (see CCC 1866).

In the parable, we hear of a rich man who reaps a bountiful harvest. Instead of building up riches that matter to God, the man bases his security on material treasures, and plans to tear down his barns in order to build new, larger structures that can safely house his harvest. Elated over the harvest he plans to enjoy in the future, the rich man proclaims, "Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!"'

However, God tells the rich man his life will be demanded of him that very night. Death will strip away his false security, and he will be found wanting in what really matters. At the end of the parable, Jesus provides this warning: "Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself, but is not rich in what matters to God."

Our American culture often promotes the false values of the "good life"-storing up treasure for oneself. This life of material wealth is perpetually held up as the real treasure to be continually desired and sought after. Additionally, contemporary society in the West nourishes a hedonistic attitude and lifestyle.

The life of simplicity and asceticism is shunned, while fine dining, entertainment, comfort, power and financial success are elevated, even to the point of being worshiped metaphorically. The words of the rich man, "rest, eat, drink, [and] be merry!" echo throughout our society.

No amount of material wealth, power or prestige will make us permanently happy. On the contrary, the wealthy and powerful are often people whose interior has become barren and turned in on itself, a place where peace and happiness are as absent as rain in the desert. Their ground is spiritually parched, and material treasure provides no healing balm to alleviate the pain.

Further, the more material wealth is gathered, the more chained to these fleeting possessions do we become. The greater the harvest, the more urgent is the demand for larger barns. Material wealth is not a sin per se, of course, but it does not lead to the happiness we unceasingly crave and seek.

What does lead to permanent and lasting happiness?

As Jesus points out, becoming "rich in what matters to God" is the key. When we place God first, and love our neighbor as another self, we soon begin to experience a perceptible, lasting happiness that is not of this world.

It is "other-worldly" because it does not originate from our interior, from creatures or material possessions, but from God, whose love fills us with true and lasting peace, joy and happiness. To live as Jesus lived, that is, a life of holiness, is to store up eternal treasure.

This treasure is lasting and permanent, and cannot be tarnished or diminished by anything in the world. In loving God we become free, truly free! And all of this is made possible by Jesus Christ, who gave his life in love and for love.

-----

Deacon Fred Bartels serves the diocese of Pueblo as an ordained member of the Catholic clergy. Visit him also at joyintruth.com

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Lent logo
Saint of the Day logo
Light Your Free Payer Candle for a departed loved one

What is Palm Sunday?

Live on March 20, 2024 @ 10am PDT

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.