Psalm 90
Colossians 3:1-5.9-11
Luke 12:13-21
RUNNING AFTER THE WIND
Everybody wants happiness, success, and abundance. In fact, no one would wish to be poor. Unfortunately, true happiness seems far from us. As such, today’s readings invite us to take a fresh look at our attitude towards wealth and possession.
In the first reading, the Preacher opens his book with this famous saying that runs through his book: “vanity of vanities, all things are vanities.” At first view, he presents a pessimistic view about life, for no profit comes from man’s toils other than pain. Nothing can give man rest and lasting happiness. Man cannot escape the absurdity of his existence. As such, life seems not worth living. However, it can be observed that Qoheleth gives us a more realistic and lucid view about life. For him, life is good; it is God’s gift that must be received with joy and thanksgiving. In short, man must live in the present, trust and serve God.
The gospel reading comes as a good illustration of the teaching of the Preacher. The incident of a man asking Jesus to mediate the family dispute about inheritance led Jesus to warn the crowd against all greed. Then he proceeded with the story of the rich fool. What renders the rich man a fool was not his wealth or his judicious plan of how to use his possession; but rather his inordinate attachment to these. He was obsessed and possessed by his wealth and possessions. All was about how he will enjoy his wealth. In fact, no other person is mentioned in his story. Everything was in relation to his ‘Ego’. This is selfishness and egoism. This is greed, which is a great evil. Greed destroys oneself, one’s relationships and the community life.
Thus, for us Christians, we must adopt a different approach towards our possessions: detachment and simplicity of life. St Paul, in the second reading, exhorts us to detach ourselves from everything earthly: immorality, greed, evil desire, lying, etc. Our security does not lie in material possessions, but in building a God-fearing, loving, harmonious and caring community. May the Lord help us not to put our trust in material things that do not last, but in things that lead us to eternity. Amen
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