Readings for Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23
Three hundred years before Christ walked the earth, the Hebrew teacher Qoheleth reflects on the illusion of human wisdom and effort. He develops the idea that God’s wisdom is hidden and nothing mankind can do on this earth will reveal it in a meaningful way. “All is vanity.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
This selection of Psalm 90 is very important to us in that it provides an understanding of God’s time table for creation and man; “For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday…” The psalm laments the mortality of the human life and prays for wisdom and asks for value given to the work of human hands.
Reading II Col 3:1-5, 9-11
The theme of seeking the higher gifts continues in this section of St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. He instructs the church to turn away from the hedonistic instincts of human nature and become the new creation of the Baptized. In this baptism we are unified, one in Christ.
Gospel Lk 12:13-21
The unified theme of scripture today continues with the parable of the rich man. The focus, like the previous readings for today, emphasizes the futility of storing up earthly treasures and the need to focus human efforts of accumulating the wisdom that comes only from the Father.
Reflection:
Today all the scriptural stars line up and point to one specific theme. Our efforts, futile as they may be, should be focused on building up the treasure of heaven. As with all themes, this one uses extreme points of view to emphasize the need to live virtuous lives.
In the first reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes, the ancient teacher Qoheleth (a name, translated from Hebrew to Greek meaning "one who convokes an assembly.") tells us that all our efforts to see the face of God are vanity, in vain. While the pursuits of man may be noble they cannot uncover true wisdom while we walk this earth. His discourse for us is esoteric and ethereal.
St. Paul’s injunctions to the Church at Colossus are more pragmatic. He tells them of the need to refrain from the hedonistic pursuits that yield personal gratification, usually at the expense of others. He reminds them that, in baptism, we have become a new creation and have clothed ourselves in Christ. In doing so they (we) have died to their (our) old selves and have become one in Christ. In this unity there is no place of “…immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” Far from being in vain, this transformation is required of all who claim discipleship with Christ.
The Lord himself in the Gospel of St. Luke picks up this same ideal and, using the parable genre, makes the point crystal clear. He reminds us of our own mortality and the brevity of our own lives in the grander scheme of God. (This time sense is beautifully described in the song sung in Psalm 90 today).
Stepping back from the broad lesson taught by the parable that is the root of the old cliché “you can’t take it with you”, we can see he addressed specifically a question form one of those following him. He was asked to intervene in a dispute between relatives over an inheritance. What is he saying is more important in this instance – the physical wealth involved or the motives of the heart?
Clearly it is our interior spiritual selves we should be focused upon as we look for ways to improve our place under the sun (son). Today we pray that our efforts will always be directed toward building that spiritual wealth important to the Father and that all we do will be for His greater glory and not our own.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is Allegory of the Vanity of Earthly Things by an UNKNOWN French Master, 1630
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23
Three hundred years before Christ walked the earth, the Hebrew teacher Qoheleth reflects on the illusion of human wisdom and effort. He develops the idea that God’s wisdom is hidden and nothing mankind can do on this earth will reveal it in a meaningful way. “All is vanity.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
This selection of Psalm 90 is very important to us in that it provides an understanding of God’s time table for creation and man; “For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday…” The psalm laments the mortality of the human life and prays for wisdom and asks for value given to the work of human hands.
Reading II Col 3:1-5, 9-11
The theme of seeking the higher gifts continues in this section of St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. He instructs the church to turn away from the hedonistic instincts of human nature and become the new creation of the Baptized. In this baptism we are unified, one in Christ.
Gospel Lk 12:13-21
The unified theme of scripture today continues with the parable of the rich man. The focus, like the previous readings for today, emphasizes the futility of storing up earthly treasures and the need to focus human efforts of accumulating the wisdom that comes only from the Father.
Reflection:
Today all the scriptural stars line up and point to one specific theme. Our efforts, futile as they may be, should be focused on building up the treasure of heaven. As with all themes, this one uses extreme points of view to emphasize the need to live virtuous lives.
In the first reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes, the ancient teacher Qoheleth (a name, translated from Hebrew to Greek meaning "one who convokes an assembly.") tells us that all our efforts to see the face of God are vanity, in vain. While the pursuits of man may be noble they cannot uncover true wisdom while we walk this earth. His discourse for us is esoteric and ethereal.
St. Paul’s injunctions to the Church at Colossus are more pragmatic. He tells them of the need to refrain from the hedonistic pursuits that yield personal gratification, usually at the expense of others. He reminds them that, in baptism, we have become a new creation and have clothed ourselves in Christ. In doing so they (we) have died to their (our) old selves and have become one in Christ. In this unity there is no place of “…immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” Far from being in vain, this transformation is required of all who claim discipleship with Christ.
The Lord himself in the Gospel of St. Luke picks up this same ideal and, using the parable genre, makes the point crystal clear. He reminds us of our own mortality and the brevity of our own lives in the grander scheme of God. (This time sense is beautifully described in the song sung in Psalm 90 today).
Stepping back from the broad lesson taught by the parable that is the root of the old cliché “you can’t take it with you”, we can see he addressed specifically a question form one of those following him. He was asked to intervene in a dispute between relatives over an inheritance. What is he saying is more important in this instance – the physical wealth involved or the motives of the heart?
Clearly it is our interior spiritual selves we should be focused upon as we look for ways to improve our place under the sun (son). Today we pray that our efforts will always be directed toward building that spiritual wealth important to the Father and that all we do will be for His greater glory and not our own.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is Allegory of the Vanity of Earthly Things by an UNKNOWN French Master, 1630
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