Daily Readings - Sun Aug 03 2025
Ecclesiastes
21For when someone labors in wisdom, and doctrine, and prudence, he leaves behind what he has obtained to one who is idle. So this, too, is emptiness and a great burden22For how can a man benefit from all his labor and affliction of spirit, by which he has been tormented under the sun23All his days have been filled with sorrows and hardships; neither does he rest his mind, even in the night. And is this not emptiness
Colossians
1Therefore, if you have risen together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God2Consider the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth3For you have died, and so your life is hidden with Christ in God4When Christ, your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory5Therefore, mortify your body, while it is upon the earth. For because of fornication, impurity, lust, evil desires, and avarice, which are a kind of service to idols9Do not lie to one another. Strip yourselves of the old man, with his deeds10and clothe yourself with the new man, who has been renewed by knowledge, in accord with the image of the One who created him11where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, servant nor free. Instead, Christ is everything, in everyone
Luke
13And someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.14But he said to him, "Man, who has appointed me as judge or arbitrator over you?15So he said to them: "Be cautious and wary of all avarice. For a person’s life is not found in the abundance of the things that he possesses.16Then he spoke to them using a comparison, saying: "The fertile land of a certain wealthy man produced crops17And he thought within himself, saying: ‘What should I do? For I have nowhere to gather together my crops.18And he said: ‘This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. And into these, I will gather all the things that have been grown for me, as well as my goods19And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods, stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, and be cheerful.20But God said to him: ‘Foolish one, this very night they require your soul of you. To whom, then, will those things belong, which you have prepared?21So it is with him who stores up for himself, and is not wealthy with God.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the true meaning of life and the dangers of allowing material wealth to dominate our hearts. The first reading from Ecclesiastes reminds us that all earthly pursuits, no matter how successful, are ultimately fleeting and unsatisfying without God. The author laments the futility of toil and the inevitability of leaving behind the fruits of our labor, pointing to the emptiness of a life focused solely on earthly gains. This sets the stage for the second reading from Colossians, where St. Paul urges us to seek what is above, where Christ is, and to live as new creations in him. He calls us to renounce the old self with its vices and to clothe ourselves in the new self, renewed in the image of our Creator. This teaching finds its echo in the Gospel, where Jesus warns against greed and the illusion of security through wealth. The parable of the rich fool, who builds larger barns to store his goods but loses his soul, serves as a stark reminder that life is not measured by what we possess but by our relationship with God.
The readings are deeply interconnected, each shedding light on the others. Ecclesiastes reveals the emptiness of life without God, while Colossians offers the solution: living in Christ and being transformed by his grace. The Gospel then underscores the consequences of ignoring this truth, as the rich fool’s obsession with wealth leads to spiritual poverty. Together, these readings call us to reevaluate our priorities and to recognize that true wealth lies in our relationship with God and our love for others.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: What am I pursuing? Is it the fleeting treasures of this world, or am I seeking the eternal riches of heaven? Let us not be fooled by the illusion that happiness comes from possessions or power. Instead, let us strive to live as children of God, clothed in humility, kindness, and compassion. May we remember that our lives are not our own but are hidden with Christ in God. When we live with this perspective, we will find true fulfillment and peace, for Christ is everything, and in him, we have all we need.