On a Mosque at Agra in India there is an old inscription which reads: "The world is merely a bridge; you are to pass over it, and not to build your house on it."

There is much wisdom in this old saying, and it is precisely this wisdom that Jesus wishes to drive home to his listeners in today's Gospel when one of them requests him to interfere with his own brother who would not give him his share of the inheritance. Jesus obviously would not deal with such a private matter, but instead he gave this advice to his disciples: "Look well and keep yourselves clear of all; covetousness, for a man's life does not consist in having more possessions than he needs."

Although these words hardly need an explanation and are not after all more than a matter of common sense, Jesus felt the need to stress the point by means of a parable, about a rich man whose land was yielding a heavy crop and he did not have enough room in his stores to put it all in. So he decided to pull down his barns and then build larger ones. But then God said to him: "You fool, this very night you must render up your soul!" Then Our Lord's conclusion: "Thus it is with the man who lays up treasures for himself and has no credit with God!"

So many centuries have passed and Christ's warning is still valid, if not more. Materialism is not only rampant in our time, but is often the thought that most strongly motivates people in their decisions. The more money you can dispose of, the richer you are. That, of course, is quite obvious. But still more obvious is that those who have much money and more material conveniences are often those who are less satisfied with what they possess, more concerned about increasing their wealth, and more worried about its safety.

When all is said and done, what really matters is Our Lord's warning which we also read in today's Gospel: "Look well, and keep yourselves clear of all covetousness. A man's life does not consist in having more possessions that he needs." Put more bluntly, these words will sound: "What is important is not what one has, but what one is." This truth has been put still more emphatically by the great 18th century dramatist Henry lbsen, who wrote: "Money can buy the husk of many things, but not the kernel. It brings you food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; acquaintances but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness; days of joy, but not peace and happiness."

One way or the other, it does not take much to convince us intellectually about the truth of each of Ibsen's statements. But where do we stand in practice? What is our attitude to money?

If we already have enough or more than enough to live on and take care of our family, do we take time to rest, to think also about other ways of spending our time than by working harder and earning more money? Do we leave enough time for taking good care of our own spiritual life, for relaxing in prayer, for reading useful books or viewing good TV pictures which sometimes are also available on our sets? Do we ever think of sharing some of what we have with those who are struggling to make both ends meet?

In a journal whose name I cannot remember I once read these words: "Money is an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven, and as universal provider of everything except happiness."