Eccles 1:2, 2:21-23 Ps 89:3-17 Col 3:1-5, 9-11 Lk 12:13-21
The “Preacher” struggles with the contradictions of life and the vanity of created things which give no lasting satisfaction. Good people suffer, sinners enjoy life and prosper. At a time when there was no idea of rewards after death, the “Preacher” has no solution to offer except to trust that God will make it right in the end. The Psalm echoes our need to rely on the Lord.
This final extract from Colossians hints at Paul’s very detailed moral teaching. The Christian’s life is now “hidden with Christ”, but when Christ is revealed “you too will be revealed in all your glory”. Paul then spells out how we should live our lives focussed on Christ. So that we will grow in knowledge and maturity towards the images of our creator that God intended us to be. We must put away sins of both sex and speech, which damage individuals and the Christian community.
Luke’s Gospel answers the Prophet’s problem in the first reading: good actions in this life are rewarded after death, and evil will be punished. The rich man’s approach was sensible in capitalist terms, and not immoral. But Luke’s gospel frequently insists that we must help the poor in this world, while we can!
Psalm Response: O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
(Eccles 1:2, 2:21-23 Ps 89:3-17 Col 3:1-5, 9-11 Lk 12:13-21)
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