Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves
but are not rich in what matters to God.”

This parable is a strong one about the sin of greed. Yes, pride is a sin — you cannot get enough of yourself.  Yes, lust is a sin — you cannot get enough of impure thoughts and actions. Yes, envy or jealousy is a sin — why does that one have more status, luck, more success than I have?  But this parable today is about greed, about material things — always wanting more, things, more things and more things. And then when you reach the point of saying, “Wow! I have it all!” — All stored up — death knocks on the door, and you are dead.  

I read this thought, and I liked it very much: If you have God in your life, food on your table, a roof over your head, clothes on your back, a reasonable income, and love and faith in your heart — Be happy and glad. For anything else that life can offer is nothing more than la la. 

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

I recently came across an article that described some common traditions various cultures use when burying their dead. One African tradition struck me as not only unique, but very wise. To this day, some tribes still follow the practice of removing the clothes from their dead before burying them.

I think this is a very profound gesture that reminds us that the only thing we take with us when we die is the person we have become: not our clothes; not our possessions; but only who we are. When we die, what counts is not the wealth we acquired during life, but the person we became during the process of living. 

Today’s Sacred Gospel reading addresses the reality that our purpose on earth is not to gather the wealth of this world for our selfish indulgence but rather to look beyond this world to the next.  When compared to eternity, we are on this earth for a very short period of time during which we are called to love our neighbor, share our goods with those who are less fortunate, and to keep our focus on spending eternity with God. 

Many have found a balance between obtaining and sharing while others have fallen into the trap of hoarding and consumerism. I’m sure you’re aware that Consumerism is defined as “a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.” Often, people evaluate their life using consumerism as the standard measure for success. 

Consumerism is a battle we must persist to fight for its seductive call beckons us to want more; get more; own more. And it can dull our spiritual life causing us to become self-absorbed as it gradually convinces us that success lies in acquiring passing treasures in this life at the expense of losing eternal treasures in the life to come.  

Its call is very enticing. But we must continually ask ourselves, “What type of treasure are we building?” Are we building a treasure that will last or one that is fleeting? Jesus is not interested in money. He is not interested in who is rich or who is poor or one’s social status. But, He is intimately interested in one thing; and that one thing is our soul. He is interested in where our hearts lie. So, the question is, “How do we live in this world but not of this world?”

Today’s readings invite us to review the priorities in our life. The issue is not so much about wealth but about greed. Jesus poses this parable to teach a lesson about the futility of life spent amassing material possessions with little regard to life after death. 

The rich man is not criticized for what he owns but for the reason he owns those things. What is the reason he is amassing such treasures. To what end is the rich man storing these goods? The rich man answers this question for us as he intends to live a long life; to eat, drink, and be merry; for himself! Jesus points out that the man’s folly is that he spent his life collecting that which does not last and that those things are ultimately valueless in the next life.

Today’s readings challenge us to review our priorities in life. Let’s think about them in three different ways. Think of this.

How would your son answer if someone were to ask, “What’s your dad’s number one priority in life?” Based upon the father’s actions, what would he say? 

And if someone were to ask your daughter, “What is your mother’s number one priority in life”, how would she answer?

And, if someone were to ask your father or mother, “What is your son or daughter’s priority”, how would they answer? 

Yesterday and today our parish is participating in a collection of socks and undergarments for students ages 3 – 18. I am happy to see many of you have made a donation of clothing for those who are less fortunate. It’s one of many ways we share our treasures with others. Those donations are teachable moments for our children and grandchildren to see the outpouring as we share our material goods with others.

If for some reason you missed the announcement about today’s collection of sock and undergarments you can still make a cash donation or drop off some socks and/or undergarments at the rectory and we will forward them to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. 

Today’s readings invite us to be viewed three ways; the way we see ourselves; the way others see us; but the most important way is how does God see us? If we were to appear before God this very night to give an account of our life, would God say to us, “You fool, this night your life will be demand of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?” Or will he say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You did not work for food that will perish, but for food that lasts for eternal life.” 

Deacon Mark Izzo, Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.