When I looked through the readings for this Sunday, I read Ecclesiates and thought, “No way!” Then I read a homily for the day by Jude Siciliano OP and he quoted s couple of things I really would like to pass on.
Usually, one does not expect any planned connection between the second reading and the first and third, but not so today. The second reading from Colossians forms a very good link between the other two, a link which marks clearly the Christian motivation which makes all the difference between “vanity” (futility) and worth.
First to Jude’s quotes regarding Ecclesiastes:
He quotes from a recent retreat: "If you want to know where your heart is, look over the stubs in your chequebook: where you money goes, that's where your heart is." Jude then suggests that a glance through our planning calendar for the last few months will also show where our time and energy have been spent.
Last week we buried one of our sisters who gave her time and energy in helping innumerable needy people, She believed that in serving them she was serving Christ. Her thoughts were certainly “on heavenly things, not (just) on the things that are on the earth.” What comfort and encouragement are given us by this belief!
In the gospel we have the parable of the rich man who stores his riches, thinking only of himself and the life of luxury he can now lead, “instead of making himself rich in the sight of God. “
Avarice can take many forms – clothes, gadgets, entertainment, comfort, dining… Without being too scrupulous or kill-joys, we need constantly to take stock of how we deploy our funds and our time. If the above list causes even a twinge of conscience, let us not waste that twinge but make or renew some resolutions. Otherwise, we run the risk of being like the rich man who thought only of himself. Let us ponder two lines from today’s psalm:
Let us know the shortness of our life
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Helen RyanOP
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