“Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!”
august 3, 2025 | 18th sunday in ordinary time, Year C
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 21-23; Psalm 90; Colossians 3:1-5, 9 -11; Luke 12:13-21.
What reality matters most in life could be one of the leading concerns of this 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C! Is it not sometimes so easy to focus on money, success, and things we own? Yet these do not last. Hence Qoheleth (the assembler of the writings in Ecclesiastes), says,
“Vanity is vanity. All is vanity!”
Certainly, that is why Paul tells the new convert that they have to look for the things from heaven. Jesus, came indeed to invite us to seek lasting joy; that is the joy that endures beyond this life. Such Joy comes from our relationship with God as we live according to his ways. We are warned against folly and selfish ambition, but use our blessings to serve and to help others. Jesus teaches us the right attitude towards wealth. To reach out is to be rich in what matters to God. Jesus said to the crowd: the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Avoiding Greed, a common human problem
Today’s scripture readings are inviting us to avoid greed, self-centeredness, becoming rich for oneself, but always act in favor of the poor and the marginalized. Jesus makes it clear to us that material possessions do not secure our lives and they are not permanent. God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom they will belong?”
Jesus is inviting us a true discipleship, which consists in prioritizing the kingdom of heaven by investing for the kingdom of God. Peter and Andrew, James and John left everything to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22). Levi left everything to follow Jesus (Luke 5:27-32); Zacchaeus gave half of his possessions to the poor (Luke 19:8); Early Christians shared
their possessions so that there was no poor
among them. Material things are not the end but God is our Ultimate End. We must find our happiness in God. This Sunday, we should learn that nothing on this earth is permanent. We should therefore avoid greed because our value is not based on our wealth. We will be judged not on what we have but on what we are and how we use what we have! Let’s therefore avoid any form of self-centeredness but learn to reach out those who are in need. Maybe this can be practiced by trying each Sunday to build a more welcoming community. This begins in the heart of each of us.
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac
Living the Gospel: CCC. 2402
(Catechism of the Catholic Church)
This article of the Catechism speaks of the universal destination and private ownership of Goods. Its stipulates that, in the beginning, God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. [Cf. Gen 1:26-29] The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race.
However, the earth is divided up among men to assure the security of their lives, endangered by poverty and threatened by violence. The appropriation of property is legitimate for guaranteeing the freedom and dignity of persons and for helping each of them to meet his basic needs and the needs of those in his charge. It should allow for a natural solidarity to develop between men. [226, 1939]
Happy 18th Sunday.
Fr. Georges Bidzogo SAC