A Hearse a U-Haul and All Our Earthly Treasures: 18th Sunday After Pentecost
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23,
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
Gospel: Luke 12:13-21
Today's readings focus on themes of guarding against greed, seeking heavenly treasures, and remembering that true life doesn't consist of material possessions.
We often hear the saying, “You’ve never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.” a reminder echoed in the wisdom of Holy Mother Church. Earthly possessions and achievements, no matter how impressive, ultimately pass away. Saint Paul reminds us in his letter to Timothy, “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). Every funeral is a solemn testimony to this truth, and yet, our actions can sometimes betray a subtle attachment to material things. The Catechism instructs us to keep our hearts detached from riches and to place our trust in God alone.
Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, a spiritual malady warned against by Christ himself. In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus cautions: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” He illustrates this with the parable of the rich fool, whose earthly prosperity blinded him to eternal realities. God rebukes him: “You fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (Luke 12:15–21). The Church urges us to be “rich toward God,” storing up treasures that endure for eternal life.
This teaching is not only for those outside the faith; Catholics, too, must guard their hearts. We are called to examine our conscience regularly, especially in light of the first commandment, which calls us to love God above all things. How do we react when we lose something valuable, or when our plans are disrupted by financial setbacks? The Church teaches that our ultimate security lies not in possessions, but in God’s providence. As Jesus proclaims in the Sermon on the Mount: “No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
Instead, Christ invites us to invest in “treasures in heaven,” a theme echoed throughout Catholic tradition. Works of mercy, acts of charity, prayer, and the faithful use of our gifts are all means by which we store up lasting riches. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). The saints, from Francis of Assisi to Thérèse of Lisieux, exemplify this joyful detachment and trust in God, teaching by their example that holiness consists in loving and serving God above all.
We are often reminded that “the measure of our life is not our possessions, but our love.” The Church calls us to use our material blessings for the service of others, especially the poor and vulnerable, for in them we encounter Christ himself (see Matthew 25:31–46). Stewardship is not about accumulating wealth, but about recognizing that all we have is a gift from God, meant to be shared for His glory and the good of our neighbor.
Ultimately, it is faith, hope, and charity—the theological virtues—that endure. Houses decay, fortunes dissipate, but “the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Through participation in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we are united to Christ and His saving work, receiving the grace to seek the things that are above. Christ assures us, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places... I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1–6). Trusting in Him, we can set our hearts on heaven, the only treasure that will never fade or disappoint.
Saint Paul writes, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7–8). Let us, then, ask for the grace to live each day with hearts fixed on Christ, seeking not fleeting wealth, but the imperishable riches of eternal life with God. -F.D.