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A team of 200 priests comment on daily Gospel

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Liturgical day: Sunday 18th (C) in Ordinary Time

Gospel text (Lk 12,13-21): Jesus continued with this story, «There was a rich man and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought: ‘What shall I do? For I am short of room to store my harvest. So this is what he planned: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones to store all this grain, which is my wealth». Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus, «Master, tell my brother to share with me the family inheritance». He replied, «My friend, who has appointed me as your judge or your attorney?». Then Jesus said to the people, «Be on your guard and avoid every kind of greed, for even though you have many possessions, it is not that which gives you life».

And Jesus continued with this story, «There was a rich man and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought: ‘What shall I do? For I am short of room to store my harvest’. So this is what he planned: ‘I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones to store all this grain, which is my wealth. Then I may say to myself: My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself’. But God said to him: ‘You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you; tell me who shall get all you have put aside?’. This is the lot of the one who stores up riches instead of amassing for God».

Illustration: Fr. Lluís Raventós Artés

Today we hear the parable of the "fool" who relies on material wealth. " My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years." Really? How much is "many years"? Before the eternity they are nothing.

- Besides: "many years" could be few days for me (or weeks, or months). Only God has total control over time! And, worst of all, neither Heaven nor God can be bought with "grain".