Words from Father Yohanes: Wealthy Hands & Empty Soul

The key word for modern life is success. It becomes the target for everybody. We ought to chase it - work harder, earn more, gain respect and prestige. We live within such a frame, which leads us to develop negative prejudices. Unknowingly, we learn to believe that a valuable life is a successful one, and without success, we are worth less.

There is nothing wrong with the idea that a valuable life is a successful one. We all accept it as part of life and a response to the needs of time. In short, we can say that we now live in a competitive era. So, we must work to sustain and maintain life. We have no choice. To live means to work and earn good things to support life.

But behind all the bright images and the drive to succeed, there is a question we rarely ask: Does success make our life full? Or does it keep us running without rest, always feeling emptiness and dissatisfaction? Most of the time, it happens this way - especially when life is measured only by external achievements. We lose something deeper: salvation, wisdom, peace, a sense of “enough,” and gratitude. We may reach the top and hold everything in our hands, but our soul is empty - because we have not transformed the achievement in our hands to nourish our soul for salvation.

Jesus warns us about this - Luke 12:13 - 21. A rich man’s land produces abundantly, so he decides to build bigger barns. He says to himself, “Now I can rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life.” Yet God calls him a fool: “This very night your life will be taken from you. Who will get all you have prepared for yourself?” The man’s hands and barns are full, but his soul is empty.

This parable challenges us to have both wealthy hands and wealthy souls. We are called to see our blessings - wealthy hands, as gifts to be shared, becoming wealthy souls. At first glance, this invitation seems unjust. Why? Because we work hard and earn, whereas others do not do the same. They don’t invest in life through education, saving, and hard work. So, it seems fair that their lack of success is the price they must pay. Why doesn’t God consider that? Why God still asked us to share what we have – talent, as a gift.

To understand this invitation to have both wealthy hands and soul, we look at Jesus’ life. He has wealthy hands - everything is already in His divine hands. Using those wealthy hands, Jesus offers precious gifts to the people: His body and blood. He said, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it. For this is my body, which will be given up for you.” And likewise with His blood: “Take this, all of you, and drink from it. For this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant…” In doing this, Jesus enriches His soul. God recognizes Him and says, “You are my beloved Son; in you, I am well pleased.”

We are called to have wealthy hands - and, at the same time, to use them as gifts to help those in need – wealthy soul. That is how we take care of our soul using wealthy hands – imitating Jesus. We may have many things, but what really matters is what we are looking for in life. If we are not looking for God, our hands may be full, but our soul still empty.

Father Yohanes Akoit is pastor of St. Julian and St. Anthony Catholic churches in Kentucky.