First Reading

Reading from the letter of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Ephesians

Ephesians 2, 1-10

Brothers and sisters: You were dead because of your offenses and sins, because at one time you lived according to the standards of this world, obeying the one who is at the head of the invisible forces of evil, that spirit who now exercises his influence over those who resist the Gospel. Among them we also were, for at one time we lived subject to the instincts, desires, and thoughts of our disorder and selfishness, and we were naturally destined for the terrible punishment of God, like the rest.

But the mercy and love of God are very great; because we were dead because of our sins, and he gave us life with Christ and in Christ. By his pure generosity, we have been saved. With Christ and in Christ he has raised us up, and with him he has reserved a place for us in heaven. Thus, in all times, God shows through Christ Jesus the incomparable richness of his grace and his goodness toward us.

In fact, you have been saved by grace, through faith; and this is not due to yourselves, but it is a gift of God. Nor is it due to works, so that no one may boast, because we are God’s handiwork, created through Christ Jesus to do the good that God has prepared for us to do.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 12, 13-21

At that time, while Jesus was in the midst of a crowd, a man said to him: “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” But Jesus answered him: “Friend, who has appointed me as judge in the distribution of inheritances?”

And turning to the crowd, he said: “Avoid all kinds of greed, because a man’s life does not depend on the abundance of the goods he possesses.”

Then he proposed this parable to them: “A rich man had a great harvest and began to think: ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store the harvest? I know what I am going to do: I will tear down my barns and build others larger to store my harvest and all that I have. Then I will be able to say to myself: You already have goods accumulated for many years; rest, eat, drink, and enjoy the good life.’ But God said to him: ‘Fool! This very night you are going to die. For whom will all your goods be?’ So it is with the one who amasses riches for himself and does not become rich in what is valuable before God.”