Daily Readings - Sun Aug 03 2025
Ecclesiastes
21For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Colossians
1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Luke
13And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.14And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward 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.