The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine our motives for our accumulation of material wealth, the origin of our plans and our Way to Redemption.
The Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians proclaims the Generosity of God’s Plan.
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[2:1–10] The recipients of Paul’s letter have experienced, in their redemption from transgressions and sins, the effect of Christ’s supremacy over the power of the devil (Eph 2:1–2; cf. Eph 6:11–12), who rules not from the netherworld but from the air between God in heaven and human beings on earth. Both Jew and Gentile have experienced, through Christ, God’s free gift of salvation that already marks them for a future heavenly destiny (Eph 2:3–7). The language dead, raised us up, and seated us…in the heavens closely parallels Jesus’ own passion and Easter experience. The terms in Eph 2:8–9 describe salvation in the way Paul elsewhere speaks of justification: by grace, through faith, the gift of God, not from works; cf. Gal 2:16–21; Rom 3:24–28. Christians are a newly created people in Christ, fashioned by God for a life of goodness (Eph 2:10).
* [2:1–7] These verses comprise one long sentence in Greek, the main verb coming in Eph 2:5, God brought us to life, the object you/us dead in…transgressions being repeated in Eph 2:1, 5; cf. Col 2:13.
* [2:2] Age of this world: or “aeon,” a term found in gnostic thought, possibly synonymous with the rulers of this world, but also reflecting the Jewish idea of “two ages,” this present evil age and “the age to come”; cf. 1 Cor 3:19; 5:10; 7:31; Gal 1:4; Ti 2:12. The disobedient: literally, “the sons of disobedience,” a Semitism as at Is 30:9.
* [2:5] Our relation through baptism with Christ, the risen Lord, is depicted in terms of realized eschatology, as already exaltation, though Eph 2:7 brings in the future aspect too. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 100 invites the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings.
* [Psalm 100] A hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings for the God who created them.
* [100:3] Although the people call on all the nations of the world to join in their hymn, they are conscious of being the chosen people of God. (Psalms, PSALM 100 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents the Parable of the Rich Fool.
* [12:13–34] Luke has joined together sayings contrasting those whose focus and trust in life is on material possessions, symbolized here by the rich fool of the parable (Lk 12:16–21), with those who recognize their complete dependence on God (Lk 12:21), those whose radical detachment from material possessions symbolizes their heavenly treasure (Lk 12:33–34).
* [12:21] Rich in what matters to God: literally, “rich for God.” (Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. Larry Gillick, SJ, comments that a man has a bountiful harvest which leads to having a conversation with and about himself. His barn cannot contain all his collected crops, so he decides to build a bigger one and so he can live as high as his ego can reach in the “good life.”
God intervenes this inner-ruption with a suggestion that this man might reconsider his wealth and health. God calls the man a “fool” because he, the “fool” will not last as long as his treasure. He did not buy into what matters to God. What does matter to God?
Very simply, what matters to God, always and in every circumstance, is revelation! The man planted and harvested and planned to hide it all for himself. He had forgotten where the seeds came from and the rain and the sun and the very earth of it all.
The Divine Giver, Earth-Giver, Sun and Rain-giver shared it all and the Fool thought it was all his and for him and a revelation of himself and for himself. (Gillick, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Surrounded by wealth, blind to charity,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"'What does the rich man do, surrounded by a great supply of many blessings beyond all numbering? In distress and anxiety, he speaks the words of poverty. He says, 'What should I do?' ... He does not look to the future. He does not raise his eyes to God. He does not count it worth his while to gain for the mind those treasures that are above in heaven. He does not cherish love for the poor or desire the esteem it gains. He does not sympathize with suffering. It gives him no pain nor awakens his pity. Still more irrational, he settles for himself the length of his life, as if he would also reap this from the ground. He says, 'I will say to myself, "Self, you have goods laid up for many years. Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself." 'O rich man,' one may say, "You have storehouses for your fruits, but where will you receive your many years? By the decree of God, your life is shortened." 'God,' it tells us, 'said to him, "You fool, this night they will require of you your soul. Whose will these things be that you have prepared?" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 89) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Letter to the Ephesians celebrates the fact the people have sought a conversion from the devil and are called by Christ to reject the old and and accept the new. The letter declares that “By grace you have been saved.” This differs from the authentic letters of Paul where we are justified by faith that we will be saved on the last day. Ephesians was likely written in Paul’s name to a Gentile community. In the Gospel of Luke, a man asks Jesus to help with his concern about inheritance. This resolution of inheritance issues was often done by rabbis. Jesus resists the request with a parable about inheritance that Friar Jude notes underlines why we have such concern about material things that pass so quickly?
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 12:13-21 asks What kind of wealth are we looking for? To what degree is it riches that matter to the world, and to what degree is it riches that matter to God? Tell Jesus about the balance between the two, and ask him to reveal what he thinks about it.
If you let Jesus see your true desires, including whatever “bigger barns” you are hoping for, he will give you a glimpse into his desires for you. He will show you what it could be like if you were more rich in what matters to him—the joys, the spiritual insights, the sense of purpose, and, yes, the challenges. And he will fill you with a deeper desire to pursue that wealth—the wealth that really matters.
“Lord, help me to desire your treasures above all else.” (Meditation on Luke 12:13-21, 2026)
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, considers how the lens of empire shifted the interpretation of the gospel. We are so aligned with our current money-making system that much of Jesus’s teaching, in which he says the top will be bottom and the bottom will be top, doesn’t make a bit of sense to us. (See Matthew 19:30, 20:16.) We don’t agree with it, privately or publicly.
There are, of course, the outliers, those who remained outside of empire. In the Catholic world there were the desert fathers and mothers, the Celts, and the mendicant orders. In the Protestant world, non-imperial Christianity was probably best illustrated by the Anabaptist movement, which led to groups like the Mennonites, the Amish, the Waldensians, the Bruderhof, and even the Quakers (although the Quakers aren’t really Anabaptists).
These forms of Christianity emphasize things like a simple lifestyle, non-participation in war, not taking oaths to governments, and not saluting the flags and systems of this world. These groups were never established by any state whatsoever, nor did they enjoy the privileges that came from being the established religion of the Roman, Spanish, or British Empires. This is actually to their benefit because once you’re established, you have to be careful! Your ability to speak truth will be highly limited. There’s a whole bunch of things you cannot say anymore. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ask the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to enlighten our understanding of the material goals that may interfere with living in Christ as we honour our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.
References
Ephesians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/2?
Gillick, L. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-19-2026
Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?
Meditation on Luke 12:13-21. (2026, October 19). The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/19/1696360/
Psalms, PSALM 100 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Games of Empire. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-games-of-empire/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Storing up True Riches. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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