There was a very rich man who died and the people were curious how much money and property he left behind. One day, they saw the accountant in a restaurant and they asked him how much money and property did the rich man leave behind? The answer was simple, “everything.” 

The Gospel today talks about “Things of this world and things of the above.” Three things we remember:

1. The things of this world can be counted. One – house, two – clothes, three – watches. The things of the above cannot be counted: love, patience, forgiveness, generosity, hope, faith.
2. The things of this world we leave behind. We came to this world with nothing, we are leaving this world with nothing. The things from above, we bring it to the next life: “Whatever you do to the least your brethren, you do unto me.”
3. People fight about the things of this world. How many relationships have been broken because of fighting over material things? Things from above are never fought about. In fact, they are shared: Love is meant to be given away: Forgiveness is meant to be given away: Hope is meant to be given away.

In the Mass, may we only focus on the two most important things in life: Love of God and Love of neighbor. The material things, one day, we will just say goodbye to. They are only lent to us. May we use the things of this world so that we can attain the things from above.