My dear brothers and sisters,
Many times in our life we ask ourselves: What is a success? What is a successful life, a successful career, a successful relationship a successful marriage? Is a person’s life successful if he or she is making a good salary? Many times, that is the way that most people calculate success.
The readings for this Sunday force us to take a closer look at the whole concept of success. In the Gospel reading, the man is convinced that he is a success because he is a rich farmer. What should he do now that he has succeeded in harvesting more grain than he has storage room? Build a bigger barn, of course. The only thing is, the basis of his success is his grain. When he suddenly dies, his success remains here, and he goes on to God empty handed. God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom they will belong?’ Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”
You know very well patron of our Parish -St. Francis of Assisi. As you know Francis gave up all his worldly possessions and started new life as a monk. He recognized that wealth, family, social position and profession is not everything and doesn’t mean that our life is successful. He wanted to be a full human being in the image of Christ. He left everything that he possessed on the square of Assisi and started new life, like a newborn child. St. Francis’ action was prophetic; he wanted to show us what the true success should be.
A doctor is successful not if he or she has a successful practice but if he or she becomes the healing hands of Christ for the sick.
A lawyer is successful not if he is part of a money-making firm, but if he uses learning, knowledge and talent to protect people and the community, to do good for people and the community, to be just.
A priest is on the road to success if he can draw closer to God each day of his life while he also draws those he serves to join him on the journey to God.
A marriage is successful if the man or woman is a better person, a more loving person, because of the marriage.
Success in parenting is certainly not based on what your kids have, but who your kids are.
My Dear brothers and sisters, Success is not predicated on what we have, what honors we receive, what jobs we hold, etc. Success is based on how each of us has developed as a person. Success means our ability to assume the person of Jesus Christ. For the Christian, success is not a present reality; it is a goal, the goal of Christian life. This goal will be reached when every aspect of our lives reflects the Person of Jesus Christ. That is success. Everything else is vanity.