Qoheleth 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. With no idea of life after death, the Preacher’s only solution is to trust that God will make it right eventually.
The Psalm contrasts the shortness of our lives with God’s eternity, seeing suffering and death as punishment for sin. But also prays that God will grant some happiness before death.
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 Preacher’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 insists that we must help the poor 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(90):3-17, Col 3:1-5,9-11, Lk 12:13-21)