Vanity of Vanity, all is Vanity

Eccles. 1:2.2:21-23, Col. 3:1-5.9-11, Lk. 12:13-21. On this Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, the Church enjoins us to remain focused on our quest to make it to Heaven. Today's first reading begins with a warning: “Vanity, vanity, the preacher says vanity…” It strikes a reality that most of us have neglected. However, one day we will come to terms with it. The Preacher calls us to remember God in all we do. He reminds us that there will be an ultimate end to all created things. He also reminds us that the ultimate goal here on earth is to walk our way straight to Heaven. The second reading hits the nail on the head as Paul clearly differentiates true life from life lived outside Christ. Without mincing words, he reminds us that we must be Heavenly bound where Christ is everything. Hence, Paul tells us: “Kill everything in you that belongs to only earthly life, fornication, impurity, guilty passion, evil desires, greed, false gods and never tell each other lies.”

This call to “kill everything evil” is simply a call to transform our lives, a call to purity of life and call to remain steadfast. We have become so attached to the things of this world that we hardly reflect about Heaven any more because it has become an ancient tale told by the ignorant and believed by fools. What Paul advocates for here is, a Christ centred life. That is, a life well lived on earth. A life that will qualify us for the Heavenly banquet. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to us as He did to the man from the crowd: “Watch out and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made more secured by what He owns…” The pursuit of wealth and the pleasures of this world have so blinded us to the reality, that we are pilgrims here on earth. Avarice is a sin which makes us become like the material good that we seek. It is a hidden enemy of every child of God. So, we must avoid it because it is dangerously contagious.

May the Lord redirect our way of life to seek Him daily! Amen!! Good morning and happy Sunday!!!