Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21–23 | Colossians 3:1–5, 9–11 | Luke 12:13–21

A man once prayed: “Lord, give me a fat bank account and a slim body. Please don’t mix them up like You did last year!” Ah, the things we chase in life.

Today’s readings, especially the Gospel from Luke, confront us with the big question: What are we living for? A man interrupts Jesus with a demand: “Tell my brother to share the inheritance!” And Jesus, with the patience only the Son of God can have, responds not by settling the case, but by telling a parable of the rich fool, a man who had so much he built bigger barns, only to die that very night. Moral of the story? You can’t take your barns with you!

Ecclesiastes echoes the same sentiment: “Vanity of vanities!” We spend so much time accumulating wealth, fame, possessions, only to discover they cannot satisfy the hunger in our souls. St. Paul then reminds us: “Seek what is above, where Christ is.”

This isn’t to say material things are evil, after all, Jesus enjoyed meals, wore clothes, and had friends who supported His ministry. The problem is when these things own us. As someone joked, “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy ice cream… and that’s pretty close!” Sure, but ice cream melts, and so does wealth, if it’s not used with wisdom.

The Christian life is about re-orienting our hearts. True richness is being “rich toward God”, investing in love, generosity, prayer, and service. These are treasures moths and rust can’t destroy.

So, what are we storing in our barns? Anxiety? Resentment? Greed? Or Peace, Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness?

The truth is, we often spend so much time making a living, that we forget to make a life. Jesus doesn’t condemn riches. He simply reminds us that being “rich toward God” is what truly lasts. That means loving well, giving generously, forgiving quickly, and living like heaven is our home.

So today, ask yourself: Am I building bigger barns, or a bigger heart? Let’s live not for possessions, but for purpose. Let’s store up treasure in heaven, because that’s the only storage that never needs upgrades.

Brothers and sisters let’s not live like the rich fool who planned for everything except eternity. Let’s live with open hearts, generous hands, and heavenly focus. Because in the end, the size of your barn doesn’t matter, only the size of your heart before God.

Your Priest,

Fr. Charles Enyinnia