Homily – July 31, 2016 (Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time- C)
The stores are crazy this weekend! And next weekend, they’ll be just as crazy, as I believe it is a tax-free weekend. I must admit, that the joy and the pain of “back to school shopping” still remains burned in my brain! Having to try on clothes, decide on binder colors, agree to a notebook tab organizing philosophy that you will never use again… and of course, choosing the latest greatest lunch box! Yes, I had a tin Scooby-Doo lunch box… With the thermos that fit perfectly next to the PBJ Sandwich!
Oh “vanity of vanities, all things are vanity!” Qoheleth (Ko-hel-eth), which is best translated to mean “preacher”, was not referring to back to school items when he uttered the infamous phrase, but it is a good spring board towards understanding our readings today, for let’s face it, we all remember the excitement of getting the coolest vest to wear over that amazing silk shirt, or the confidence of knowing that the Scooby-Doo lunch box was a one of a kind gem that would make you the talk of the class, only to discover that everyone has the same Scooby-Doo lunch box, and your class rival has THE coolest Star Wars lunch box ever! Even at a young age, we can understand this feeling of futility, knowing that I’ll never be as cool as the guy with the cooler lunchbox!
Well that’s the somewhat pessimistic outlook offered in today’s first reading from Ecclesiastes. The hebrew word translated as vanity literally means “vapor” or “thin air.” It is Qoheleth’s (Ko-hel-eth’s) way of describing the futility of life, for despite all of his efforts to find joy, nothing seemed to satisfy him. Things may attract us or intrigue us, but nothing has lasting value. Ecclesiastes offers us the first look today at a very valuable truth. We can never find happiness through the possession of earthly things… especially a lunchbox. Actually, this prepares the way in Jewish thought, for the promise of the resurrection and eternal life.
The Psalm today is equally challenging, but it calls on us to listen for the voice of the Lord. It challenges us not to harden our hearts with earthly things, because the reality is clear… It all returns to dust! But before you get lost in the supposed too and gloom, notice the hope and promise of last stanza of the Psalm: “Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us!” Again, it would seem that the message of today’s readings calls on us to replace our dependence on earthly possessions, with a willingness to embrace and possess the love of God with each new day, and with every prayer we make!
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul is reminding us all of the true meaning of our baptism, for as you have been raised with Christ through baptism, you have been taught to seek what is above. So it follows that we, as baptized Christians, should think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you, in baptism, have died with Christ, so that your life is now lived, with Christ living through you.
As we worship here today, the Holy Father has just wrapped up World Youth Day in Kraków, Poland. More than a million young pilgrims and their guides have been with Pope Francis since Thursday. His Closing Mass homily today and his overall challenge to this year's gathering in Kraków has given the million-plus pilgrims something to bring back to their homes. I find it fitting to apply the same as we head back into our week of living and working… [Too many] people have opted for an “early retirement.” That is, we have checked out of our faith, to explore and attempt to receive the “riches” of the world around us, looking for thrills or a feeling of being alive by taking dark paths and in the end having to pay for it… And in so doing, [we squander] some of the best years of [our lives], wasting [energy] running after peddlers of fond illusions, [or] “vendors of smoke”, who rob you of what is best in you.” Keep Qoheleth’s (Ko-hel-eth’s) message in mind: Vanity literally means “vapor” or “thin air.” Pope Francis continues, “God counts on you for what you are, not for what you possess. In his eyes the clothes you wear or the kind of cell phone you use are of absolutely no concern. He doesn’t care whether you are stylish or not; he cares about you! In his eyes, you are precious."
It’s an age-old conundrum as we attempt to balance happiness and the acquisition of possessions. We spend a lot of time saving for the future, storing away resources so that we’re guaranteed even more possessions. You’ve heard question posed here before, do you live to work, or work to live? That is to say, do you spend all of your time following the world's expectation that your job is to spend all your time storing up more and more stuff, so that one day you’ll finally be able to relax and live? Take heed of the rich man in today's Gospel, and know that, a friend reminded me this week, "We plan, and God laughs." Or do you live life, working a job that utilizes the gifts and blessings given to you so that you can live life to the fullest, every moment of every day? While this approach might not land you a top salary, or allow you have that "must have" item, it will allow you to reap the true richness of God's love.
Is the scripture saying that we should not purchase things or allow our homes to be a place of comfort? Or when you go "back to school" shopping, should you not give that new amazing lunchbox a try? Maybe, or maybe not... But the Good News today is that your lack of ability to have the best of everything, IS NOT THE DECIDING FACTOR on the success of your life. Through your baptism, you are only called to allow the life giving waters and the gift of the Holy Spirit to make you a vessel for Christ to work through you... So the real conundrum to consider is whether we should keep filling up our storage units, or allow ourselves to be the possession of God... To be the one who shares the riches of the heart living a life that serves with the face of God's loving Mercy!
The stores are crazy this weekend! And next weekend, they’ll be just as crazy, as I believe it is a tax-free weekend. I must admit, that the joy and the pain of “back to school shopping” still remains burned in my brain! Having to try on clothes, decide on binder colors, agree to a notebook tab organizing philosophy that you will never use again… and of course, choosing the latest greatest lunch box! Yes, I had a tin Scooby-Doo lunch box… With the thermos that fit perfectly next to the PBJ Sandwich!
Oh “vanity of vanities, all things are vanity!” Qoheleth (Ko-hel-eth), which is best translated to mean “preacher”, was not referring to back to school items when he uttered the infamous phrase, but it is a good spring board towards understanding our readings today, for let’s face it, we all remember the excitement of getting the coolest vest to wear over that amazing silk shirt, or the confidence of knowing that the Scooby-Doo lunch box was a one of a kind gem that would make you the talk of the class, only to discover that everyone has the same Scooby-Doo lunch box, and your class rival has THE coolest Star Wars lunch box ever! Even at a young age, we can understand this feeling of futility, knowing that I’ll never be as cool as the guy with the cooler lunchbox!
Well that’s the somewhat pessimistic outlook offered in today’s first reading from Ecclesiastes. The hebrew word translated as vanity literally means “vapor” or “thin air.” It is Qoheleth’s (Ko-hel-eth’s) way of describing the futility of life, for despite all of his efforts to find joy, nothing seemed to satisfy him. Things may attract us or intrigue us, but nothing has lasting value. Ecclesiastes offers us the first look today at a very valuable truth. We can never find happiness through the possession of earthly things… especially a lunchbox. Actually, this prepares the way in Jewish thought, for the promise of the resurrection and eternal life.
The Psalm today is equally challenging, but it calls on us to listen for the voice of the Lord. It challenges us not to harden our hearts with earthly things, because the reality is clear… It all returns to dust! But before you get lost in the supposed too and gloom, notice the hope and promise of last stanza of the Psalm: “Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us!” Again, it would seem that the message of today’s readings calls on us to replace our dependence on earthly possessions, with a willingness to embrace and possess the love of God with each new day, and with every prayer we make!
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul is reminding us all of the true meaning of our baptism, for as you have been raised with Christ through baptism, you have been taught to seek what is above. So it follows that we, as baptized Christians, should think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you, in baptism, have died with Christ, so that your life is now lived, with Christ living through you.
As we worship here today, the Holy Father has just wrapped up World Youth Day in Kraków, Poland. More than a million young pilgrims and their guides have been with Pope Francis since Thursday. His Closing Mass homily today and his overall challenge to this year's gathering in Kraków has given the million-plus pilgrims something to bring back to their homes. I find it fitting to apply the same as we head back into our week of living and working… [Too many] people have opted for an “early retirement.” That is, we have checked out of our faith, to explore and attempt to receive the “riches” of the world around us, looking for thrills or a feeling of being alive by taking dark paths and in the end having to pay for it… And in so doing, [we squander] some of the best years of [our lives], wasting [energy] running after peddlers of fond illusions, [or] “vendors of smoke”, who rob you of what is best in you.” Keep Qoheleth’s (Ko-hel-eth’s) message in mind: Vanity literally means “vapor” or “thin air.” Pope Francis continues, “God counts on you for what you are, not for what you possess. In his eyes the clothes you wear or the kind of cell phone you use are of absolutely no concern. He doesn’t care whether you are stylish or not; he cares about you! In his eyes, you are precious."
As you heard in today’s Gospel, Jesus is not interested in getting in the middle of a family squabble about money, because he can see the all too familiar path down the dark alley of this dispute. It is quite clear that Christ would rather us see the richness that comes from serving one another instead of ourselves!
It’s an age-old conundrum as we attempt to balance happiness and the acquisition of possessions. We spend a lot of time saving for the future, storing away resources so that we’re guaranteed even more possessions. You’ve heard question posed here before, do you live to work, or work to live? That is to say, do you spend all of your time following the world's expectation that your job is to spend all your time storing up more and more stuff, so that one day you’ll finally be able to relax and live? Take heed of the rich man in today's Gospel, and know that, a friend reminded me this week, "We plan, and God laughs." Or do you live life, working a job that utilizes the gifts and blessings given to you so that you can live life to the fullest, every moment of every day? While this approach might not land you a top salary, or allow you have that "must have" item, it will allow you to reap the true richness of God's love.
Is the scripture saying that we should not purchase things or allow our homes to be a place of comfort? Or when you go "back to school" shopping, should you not give that new amazing lunchbox a try? Maybe, or maybe not... But the Good News today is that your lack of ability to have the best of everything, IS NOT THE DECIDING FACTOR on the success of your life. Through your baptism, you are only called to allow the life giving waters and the gift of the Holy Spirit to make you a vessel for Christ to work through you... So the real conundrum to consider is whether we should keep filling up our storage units, or allow ourselves to be the possession of God... To be the one who shares the riches of the heart living a life that serves with the face of God's loving Mercy!
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