Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23; Psalm 95; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21
Grace and peace to you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Today’s readings are a profound spiritual mirror, a summons to examine how we measure the meaning of life and where we place our security. Let us begin by contemplating three striking statements drawn from each of the readings:
First Reading: “Sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity.”
Second Reading: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Gospel: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
Let us pause here and truly ponder these words.
The Parable of a Foolish Farmer
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses a man preoccupied with inheritance by telling a parable of a successful farmer whose land produced a great harvest. Overjoyed, the man thought to himself, “Relax, eat, drink, be merry!” But then God called him a fool – in Greek, ‘aphrōn’, meaning senseless, unthinking, ignorant.
Why such a harsh verdict on someone successful? Let us reflect on four marks of spiritual foolishness present in this man.
1. He Attributed His Success to Himself
The farmer celebrated his success as entirely his achievement, forgetting that all blessings come from God. He did not acknowledge that without God’s favour, even the hardest labour is in vain. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
Gratitude is wisdom; self-glorification is folly.
2. He Was Imprisoned in Self-Absorption
This man’s vocabulary was saturated with “I,” “me,” and “mine.” There was no space in his heart for others. He dreamt of building bigger barns, not better ones. But the best barns are not walls of stone; they are the empty hands of the poor, the needy stomachs that cry for our generosity. Those who see beyond themselves, who invest in others, are rich in the sight of God.
3. He Placed His Happiness and Security in His Possessions
He told his soul, “You have many goods stored up, relax!” But joy built on material things is fragile.
Let us recall the words of King Solomon, the wealthiest and wisest man of his time. He reigned in opulence, receiving 25 tonnes of gold annually (2 Chronicles 9:13-29). He had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). He tasted every worldly pleasure. Yet what did he conclude? “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
If Solomon, with his unimaginable wealth and pleasure, declared this, what excuses have we? Where is Solomon today? Where are his empire, his gold, and his many wives?
That is why St. Paul exhorts us in the Second Reading: “Set your minds on things above.” Pursue what will last into eternity, not what perishes with the grave.
4. He Believed He Controlled Tomorrow
The farmer spoke confidently of “many years to enjoy”, yet he had no idea his life would end that very night. This is a warning to us all:
To those who procrastinate on repentance, reconciliation or carrying out a good deed, thinking they have time.
To the proud who think their success is permanent.
To those who look down on others today not mindful that no one knows tomorrow.
And to those facing challenges that believe their hardship is forever.
Wisdom is remembering that tomorrow belongs to God, not to us.
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring” (Proverbs 27:1).
“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself” (Matthew 6:34).
“You who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town…’ You do not know what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:13-17).
Do what good you can today. Trust God with your tomorrow.
Conclusion
Dear friends, the true tragedy of this man was not that he was wealthy, but that he was not rich in what matters to God. He lived for himself, not for God. He fed his body but starved his soul. He secured his bank account but lost his eternity.
Let us not be like him.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me to be wise in Your sight. Deliver me from every form of spiritual foolishness, the pride that forgets You, the selfishness that blinds me to others, the idolatry of wealth, and the arrogance of presuming upon tomorrow. Help me to live well today, to seek the things that last forever, and to trust You completely with my tomorrow.
Amen.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on August 3, 2025.