The parable of the foolish rich man warns against the danger of living to accumulate

Father Ángel Luis Lorente writes that greed is a spiritual illness that causes people to confuse being with having and security with accumulation. He notes that greed creates a tragic illusion that material goods can provide protection against death and vulnerability.

In his reflection on the parable of the foolish rich man, Lorente observes that the wealthy man in the Gospel responds to an abundant harvest by turning inward rather than expressing gratitude. The man seeks to build larger barns to store his wealth, but this focus on material goods results in absolute solitude. Lorente describes the greedy person as an isolated individual who replaces human relationships with the management of inventories and accounting books.

The author explains that while the rich man believes he is securing his life through stored goods, he is actually facing spiritual death. In the parable, God interrupts the man's monologue by calling him a fool.