Hearing The Word

A weekly newsletter delivering context and insight into the Sunday Gospels.

Adorned with the Riches of Grace

~ Rev. Andrew J. Auletta

Saint Joseph Parish + Downingtown, Pa

The parable of the rich fool in the Gospel of Luke conveys a profound message about the dangers of greed and the pursuit of earthly wealth. In response to a man in the crowd who asks Jesus to judge a family inheritance dispute, Jesus offers a stern warning: "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions" (Lk 12:15). He then shares the parable of a rich man who decides to tear down his barns to build larger ones and store all his goods, thinking he can then relax and enjoy life. But God calls him a fool, saying his life will be demanded of him, and all he has stored up will be for nothing.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines greed as “the desire to amass earthly goods without limit” (CCC 2536). In this parable, the rich man embodies that disordered desire. He is so focused on accumulating wealth and securing his own comfort that he forgets the deeper realities of life: its temporality, the need for depending on God’s providence, and the moral responsibility to care for others.

This parable should also remind us of Psalm 14:1: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” By living as if God does not exist or matter, the rich man demonstrates a deep spiritual blindness. He isn’t focused on opportunities to serve others, give to the poor, and cultivate virtue, which are actions that enrich the soul and lead to lasting fulfillment. Jesus’ message is clear: true wealth is not measured by possessions but by one’s generosity, humility, and relationship with God. In the end, we are called to be rich not in worldly treasures, but in what matters to God: faith, love, and eternal life with him.

Guard Against Greed, and Give



~ Matthew Gambino

Saint Teresa of Avila Parish + Norristown, Pa.

When I was a kid, the kitchen table after dinner became the site for homework. One night as I was finishing my math, my dad was finishing his. As he closed the checkbook on the last of the family’s bills, he declared, “That’s it, there’s no more.” I was stunned. How would we survive if there was no more money? 

Dad knew if he kept working hard and watched spending, the now-bare account would refill just enough for our needs. He kept a radical trust that as God had provided, he would continue to do so.

That lesson in trust came to mind with this Sunday’s Gospel where Jesus commands, as he often does: “Forgive;” “give;” “be perfect;” “love one another.” Today it’s “guard against greed.”

He doesn’t say, “don’t be rich.” But if you are, don’t be greedy; don’t pile up wealth for its own sake. One needs food, a home, education, a measure of security. But life, as Jesus wisely teaches, “does not consist of possessions.”

Better to give away excess wealth that might turn our hearts toward trying to fill the unfillable “bigger barn” and away from relying on God. Better to surrender to providence and give away what is most dear – the root of the word “charity” – in service of more than yourself.

It’s a radical response to our Christian baptism to enter the world with all its demands and uncertainties, and observe all he has commanded – in this case, to guard against greed. 

Our family was in no danger of building a bigger tool shed, let alone a barn. Dad found a way not only to pay bills and give to Catholic Charities, our parish, and other good causes. He showed how to use the resources we had humbly, and share them with an open heart.