EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Also Read: Mass Readings for 31 July 2022 Homily for 31 July 2022 – Sunday
First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1: 2; 2: 21-23
23 For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.
Why do we toil and still not have peace in our hearts? Is it because we have given to toiling for our own glorification? By all the accomplishments, do we want the world to applaud us? Therein lies our answer. We run after worldly accolades and riches, while our soul suffers. We don’t hear the soft whispers of the Holy Spirit because we have tarred our ears with the wax of greed, pride, and jealousy!
May The Lord have Mercy on us! Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 90: 3-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands—
O prosper the work of our hands!
Amen!
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-5, 9-11
3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,
The title of this chapter is: “The New Life in Christ” Therefore, if we truly believe we are a new creation in Christ, then St. Paul urges us to live accordingly.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).
Any of the above is a sin in the eyes of God! But the last one in the list stands out the most because of the mention of idolatry! Greed of any kind, whether it be greed for food, money, power, attention, applause, and so on; is a form of “idolatry”! Unknowingly, we might have worshipped some/any of these in some form! We must reflect on our choices and repent if we have been guilty of these!
May the Holy Spirit Lord open our eyes! Amen!
Gospel: Luke 12: 13-21
15 And Jesus said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
We must reflect on our actions/words of the day, every night!
21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
We understand that it is unwise to hoard any possessions, but how are we to turn “rich toward GOD”? Can we add an ounce to God’s glory? No, so how does one turn rich toward God? Christ said that we must love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength; and “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31) We know that man is made in the likeness and image of God; (Gen: 1:26 and 5:1-3) therefore our neighbors have God inside of them! (True, sometimes though, some of them may make it very difficult for us to see Christ in them! But let us not get disheartened!) We know HE is with us always (Matt: 28:20) and therefore sees our hearts and actions.
The rich fool in the parable could easily have shared his surplus grain with the needy, instead of building more storage for himself. How foolish God considers these actions! May we turn to wisdom and live with an ‘abundance mindset’. –A mindset that believes in sharing out of the blessings we have been bestowed with be it time, talent or treasure!
When we do not succumb to greed in any form, after our toils each day, we will be at peace in The Lord. Amen!
