Homily by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me” (Lk 12:13).
The Gospel passage opens with what seems like a simple, even just, request: a man asks Jesus to intervene in a family dispute over inheritance. But Jesus does not respond the way the man expects. He refuses to arbitrate in this dispute, and instead redirects the man’s concern. Why? Because Jesus sees deeper than the surface quarrel. He sees into the heart.
The man thinks his problem is legal, but Jesus knows his problem is spiritual. The man wants fairness, but Jesus wants transformation. Behind the request, lies a deeper disease: greed, the desire to possess more, to control, to secure one’s future through wealth.
This is the starting point of the parable. Jesus is not anti-justice; he is pro-eternity. He warns us that not all problems are solved by dividing goods – some are only solved by transforming hearts.
Beware of greed: the subtle poison
Jesus says: “Take care to guard against all greed; for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions” (Luke 12:15). In his letter to the Colossians, St Paul also mentions “the greed that is idolatry” (Col 3:5).
Greed does not always look ugly. Yes, it can look really ugly when we see some high-rise buildings towering over our towns. But greed can wear the mask of prudence, planning, security, and even fairness. Jesus exposes it for what it is: a threat to the soul. He calls us to vigilance – Be on your guard! – because greed does not barge into our lives; it creeps in silently, distorting our priorities and making idols out of our bank accounts, properties, and possessions.
We live in a world that celebrates accumulation. “Success” is often measured by what we own. But Jesus tells us: your worth is not measured by your wealth. The size of your property has nothing to do with the state of your soul.
We have been blessed – that is exactly what our mother and father taught us, and we are forever grateful!
The parable of the Rich Fool: a man with full barns and an empty heart
Jesus then tells a story – a parable meant not just to entertain but to challenge.
A rich man’s land produces abundantly. He does not cheat, steal, or defraud – his success is legitimate. But when he sees his overflowing harvest, he doesn’t think of others, God, or eternity. He only thinks of himself: “I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones… I will say to myself: Now as for you, you have so many things stored up for many years; rest, eat, drink, be merry!” (Luke 12:18–19)
This man plans for everything, except the most important thing: the moment God calls him to eternal life. He has a business plan, but no eternal plan. He speaks only to himself – no mention of family, friends, or the poor. He says: “my barns”, “my crops”, “my goods”. He is totally self-absorbed, and forgets that nothing truly belongs to him, not even his soul.
The divine verdict: foolishness in the eyes of eternity
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’” (Luke 12:20)
God rarely calls someone a fool in Scripture. But here, he does, because this man invested in everything, except what truly mattered. He was rich in the world’s eyes, but bankrupt in heaven.
This parable is not a condemnation of wealth – it is a warning against living without reference to God. The tragedy of the rich man is not that he died wealthy; it is that he lived foolishly. He forgot that everything we own is temporary, but the soul is eternal.
Rich toward God: the only safe investment
Jesus concludes: “Thus it will be for all who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God” (Luke 12:21).
What does it mean to be “rich in what matters to God”?
- It means investing not just in accounts and possessions, but primarily in virtue.
- It means making time not only for profits, but for prayer.
- It means remembering the poor, caring for the lonely, and using our wealth as a tool of love, not a throne of pride.
To be rich toward God is to live with open hands, not clenched fists. It is to see our possessions not as trophies, but as gifts entrusted to us, to be shared and stewarded in the light of eternity.
A life that truly counts
The message of Jesus in this parable is clear and urgent. Life is not measured by what we store, but by how we love. Not by what we keep, but by what we give. And not by what we build on earth, but by what we prepare for heaven.
We pray to God that we be counted among the wise, whose treasures are laid up in heaven, and whose hearts beat in rhythm with the heart of God.
✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi
Auxiliary Bishop of Malta