20251020 GREED IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE
20 October 2025, Monday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading | Romans 4:20-25 |
We must believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead
Since God had made him a promise, Abraham refused either to deny it or even to doubt it, but drew strength from faith and gave glory to God, convinced that God had power to do what he had promised. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’ Scripture however does not refer only to him but to us as well when it says that his faith was thus ‘considered’; our faith too will be ‘considered’ if we believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Jesus who was put to death for our sins and raised to life to justify us.
Responsorial Psalm | Luke 1:69-75 |
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people.
He has raised up for us a mighty saviour
in the house of David his servant,
as he promised by the lips of holy men,
those who were his prophets from of old.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people.
A saviour who would free us from our foes,
from the hands of all who hate us.
So his love for our fathers is fulfilled
and his holy covenant remembered.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people.
He swore to Abraham our father
to grant us that free from fear,
and saved from the hands of our foes,
we might serve him in holiness and justice
all the days of our life in his presence.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people.
Gospel Acclamation | Ps24:4,5 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Teach me your paths, my God,
make me walk in your truth.
Alleluia!
Or: | Mt5:3 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
How happy are the poor in spirit:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 12:13-21 |
Fool! This very night your soul will be demanded of you
A man in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.’ ‘My friend,’ he replied, ‘who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?’ Then he said to them, ‘Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.’
Then he told them a parable: ‘There was once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, “What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops.” Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time.” But God said to him, “Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?” So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.’
GREED IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Rm 4:20-25; Lk 1:69-75; Lk 12:13-21]
In the Gospel, Jesus was consulted about a family dispute over inheritance. Such issues are very common in many families. There is often unhappiness regarding inheritance–especially concerning the last will, the distribution of an estate among beneficiaries, or even family businesses. Wisely, Jesus did not wish to involve Himself in such disputes. He replied, “My friend, who appointed me your judge or the arbitrator of your claims?” Instead of trying to settle the secondary issue of ensuring justice, Jesus used the occasion to address the root of our unhappiness: avarice. He said, “Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.”
But what is justice? Justice is to render all things in life equal to all, for, as the first reading reminds us, we are the descendants of Abraham in faith. Those with more resources should therefore share with those who have not. God has given this earth to all of humanity, not only to some. Those who are already rich and have more than they need should not focus solely on acquiring more. Legally, the man who felt cheated of his share of the inheritance might have been right in the eyes of the law. Yet, in truth, both the one who cheated and the one who felt cheated are equally guilty of greed. This is not about the deprivation of basic needs and dignity; if we have food, shelter, and meaningful work, we should be content and happy.
Ultimately, it is not justice we are seeking, but the desire to satisfy our greed. If this were otherwise, we would be pursuing justice for the poor in the world. Statistics show that 20% of the wealthy consume 80% of the world’s resources, leaving the remaining 80% of humanity with just 20%. If there is any injustice, it is the unequal distribution of global wealth, with billions of people lacking even the basic necessities of life. When the rich seek to become richer, that is greed.
Avarice is the root of much misery and is one of the capital sins. A greedy person is never truly happy. He is a miser and, as a result, miserable. He cannot share what he has or make proper use of his possessions. He seeks only to hoard more and more, unable to enjoy life or the love of friends. When he sees others who have more, envy fills his heart. His life becomes one of constant craving, never at rest. Greed can consume a person, leading to gambling, speculation, fraud, cheating, and manipulation. Beautiful friendships and family relationships have been broken because of it.
We must examine the origin of this “octopus monster” in our hearts. Why do we need so much money? What is the purpose of money in our lives? How do we view it? Often, greed arises from insecurity. Those born into poverty or who have been deprived in life tend to hoard and desire more, fearing future deprivation and suffering. Yet this sense of insecurity is frequently exaggerated. How much does a person really need to feel secure? This is a relative question. While we are often told that financial security ensures a proper standard of living, what is a reasonable standard? Many never feel satisfied: those with an apartment want a house; those with a house want a mansion. In earlier days, despite material poverty, life could still feel fulfilling.
This was the case of the rich man in the Gospel. He lived in false security, thinking that a good harvest and bigger barns for his crops would guarantee his well-being. God said to him, “Fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be then?” We cannot control our future with certainty. Man proposes but God disposes. Wealth is not a guarantee of happiness; otherwise, the rich would always be satisfied–and they are not. Our health and life ultimately depend on divine providence.
Another reason we cling to wealth is self-centeredness. The rich man said, “My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years; take things easy, eat, drink, and be merry.” He thought only of himself, using all his resources for himself. He was not thinking of using his resources for the service of others or the advancement of God’s Kingdom. He was only thinking of his own enjoyment. His life was reduced to sensual pleasure. A life devoid of love and true friendship is lonely and miserable.
The truth is that what is even more important is when “a man stores up treasure for himself instead of making himself rich in the sight of God.” This means that our focus should be on growing in the virtues of the Christian life. We are called to acquire the goodness and generosity of God. It is only by loving–using our resources to make friends and build relationships, strengthening bonds with our family members and loved ones, and especially helping the poor–that we become rich in the sight of God. Only a life of love, care, and sharing can truly give us the happiness we seek in life. This was the case with John Wesley. One of the principles he lived by was to live simply. He would save all he could and give all he had. When he was working at Oxford, he had an income of thirty pounds a year. His living expenses was twenty-eight pounds and he give away two pounds. As he began to earn more over the years, he continued to live on twenty-eight pounds and gave the rest away. When we adopt the attitude that nothing we have truly belongs to us, we can live freely. This does not mean we should avoid responsibility or live a carefree, lavish life. On the contrary, we must use everything we have–not for ourselves, but for the service of God and the love of humanity.
Secondly, we must live fully in the present, but we also need to be prepared for the next life. Our life on earth is brief compared to eternity. The things of this world will pass away; only the fruits of love and justice will remain with us, even after death. Therefore, it is crucial to recognise that what lives on after death–until the resurrection–is our mind or soul. What will this soul be like? Will it be full of generosity, love, and forgiveness, or marked by self-centeredness and hatred? What we are on earth is what we will carry into eternity. Indeed, we must strive for things that are eternal–things we can take with us into the next life. We cannot bring even a needle with us. The things of this world will be left behind, but the virtues of the soul–kindness, compassion, and purity–will accompany us, even when the body is gone. So ask yourself: Are you investing your time and resources in acquiring treasures only for this world, or for eternity? If so, make provision for your soul, because the soul lives on forever.
In order to live a life of true security, what is required of us is not to hanker after the things of this world, because–as Jesus said–security is not guaranteed by what we possess. Rather, it is found in trusting in God and His divine providence. In the first reading, we see the example of St. Paul, who urges us to render the obedience of faith to God and His promises. When Abraham was promised a child, it seemed impossible–he was 100 years old, well past the age of fathering children, and Sarah was 90, beyond the age of conceiving. Yet, Abraham believed in the impossible and trusted in God’s promise. We, too, must trust in God while doing all that we can. This is why, in the Gospel of Luke, following the parable of the rich man, Jesus went on to preach about the need to rely on God’s providence. Unless we live a life rooted in faith and trust, we cannot live freely and fully–using all we have for love and service.
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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