Bishop Enrique Díaz Díaz shares with Exaudi readers his reflection on the Gospel for this Sunday, August 3, 2025, entitled: “Whose will your possessions be?”

Ecclesiastes (Quarter) 1,2; 2, 21-23:  “What profit does a man get from all his labors?”

Psalm 89:  “Lord, have mercy on us”

Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11:  “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is”

Luke 12, 13-21:  “Whose will your possessions be?”

In his first homily, just after his appointment, Pope Leo drew attention to the dangers of faith:  “Today, too, there are many contexts in which the Christian faith is considered an absurdity, something for weak and unintelligent people, contexts in which other securities are preferred than the one it offers, such as technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.”  Yes, wealth and power corrupt, harden the heart, and hinder faith.

In contrast to the pessimism offered by the Book of Ecclesiastes regarding riches and the meaning of life, assuring us that all is vanity, we find the optimism and confidence expressed by the rich man in the parable, who tells his heart that life is smiling on him because his barns are full. Expressions from another time and other cultures? Suffice it to contemplate how eagerly we pursue material goods and the atrocious and violent struggles, not only of cartels, but of every person in their anxious search for security and power. Perhaps one of Jesus’ most striking traits in his preaching is the lucidity with which he unmasks the alienating and dehumanizing power that wealth can hold. The risk for those who live enjoying their possessions is to forget their status as children of God the Father and brother to all people. Money can bring power, fame, prestige, security, and well-being; But to the extent that it enslaves a person, it closes his heart to God the Father, makes him forget his condition as a man and brother, and leads him to break his solidarity with others. God cannot reign in the life of a person dominated by money.

With strong appeals, Pope Francis reminded not only society but the Church itself that wealth becomes a despot who rules over people, and he invited us to reflect so as not to enslave ourselves or bow down to the idol of wealth. “We have created new idols. The ancient veneration of the golden calf has taken a new and soulless form in the cult of money and the dictatorship of the economy, which is faceless and lacks a true human purpose,”  he told the financial leaders. Money must serve, not govern. The economic and social crisis has created fear and despair, diminished the enjoyment of life, and increased violence and poverty. A new, invisible, and virtual tyranny has been established, imposing its own laws, and in many cases, people’s worth is judged only by their spending power. In a graphic way, the Pope pointed out the gravity of the situation: when there is a financial crisis, alarm bells ring and governments rush to rescue economic institutions, but when thousands of people die of hunger and live in misery every day, we can sleep peacefully, with our consciences “asleep.”

Most people think that happiness depends on the abundance of possessions. Indeed, who isn’t attracted by the desire for a lot of money? Who doesn’t like a comfortable life? Who doesn’t long for outings, entertainment, food, drinks, and new experiences? Advertising hammers home the idea that buying a certain item will bring success and a good life, as if a wealth of possessions could buy happiness. However, Jesus says that happiness doesn’t depend on it. Who do we listen to: the opinions of many people or the Word of God?

And it’s not that money or material goods aren’t necessary. Of course, they are necessary, and Jesus himself invites us to make proper use of these goods. But use is one thing and abuse is another; meeting needs is one thing and accumulating them indefinitely is another. Making good use of material goods is one thing, and becoming a slave to money and those goods is quite another. How often, even in the family, money comes before children, a wife, or siblings. The clearest example is found in the Gospel itself, where two brothers fight over an inheritance. This is not an unusual case: friends fight over money; brothers hate each other over money; political parties are divided. We are all exposed to falling into the clutches of money: the civil servant, the Church, the politician, and even family members.

Christ teaches us this today with masterful words:  “Avoid all forms of covetousness, because even if a person has everything, it is not his possessions that give him life.”  Jesus does not encourage complacency. Justice comes first, desired by God, preached by Jesus: that everyone has bread, education, shelter… the fruit of communion, of solidarity. But it can happen that when we have just enough, what is due to us as children and brothers, we crave more. This covetousness will never allow us to rest. It is very difficult to say to oneself: “My friend, you have many things stored up for many years to come; rest, eat, drink, have a good time, and help others…” Normally, there is no stopping the dynamics of covetousness. We must be vigilant. How far can we go in the accumulation of goods?

The greed of a few, or of many, impedes the development of peoples and is also contagious: Why do I think of looking at others and comparing myself to them, envying their possessions and striving for more each day? Why don’t I think of looking at those who have less and who live more simply, and be moved to share with them? “Blessed are those who have the spirit of the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

To be enriched by God is to live like Jesus: to live trustingly in the hands of our Father God, to seek the Kingdom as the main thing, the rest will follow…

Lord Jesus, grant us a simple heart, free from greed, willing to share, build, and distribute as our Heavenly Father does. Amen.