Today, on the 9th Sunday of Luke, the Gospel lesson is taken from Luke 12:16-21. In this pericope, Jesus tells the parable of the "Rich Fool." Father Gregory shares insight into this teaching as we gather on Stewardship Sunday. Jesus spoke more about finances than love, prayer, and faith. In the parable, the rich man is a fool because he keeps his possessions for himself. Our possessions and their use can increase our relationship with God. Giving from our finances helps to deepen our experience of God's love and mercy. God blesses us for our generosity and is not concerned with the amount as much as what we hold back. For Orthodox Christians giving is an expression of thanksgiving and is the smart thing to do.