1ST READING
So much of life is often lived in a vainglorious fashion. Too often, we submit our judgments to the fear inspired by the possible disapproval of others. If we fall into this trap, we will never discover our true selves and our personal gifts and talents will never reach fulfillment. We have to learn to take risks in developing our talents and character, trusting that God knew what He was doing when He created us.
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23
2 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! 2: 21 Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and yet to another, who has not labored over it, he must leave property. This also is vanity and a great misfortune. 22 For what profit comes to a man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun? 23 All his days sorrow and grief is his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity.
P S A L M
Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
R: If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
3 You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. (R) 5 You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, 6 which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. (R) 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. 13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! (R) 14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 17 And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! (R)
2nd READING
Paul does not waste time in getting to the heart of the matter. He also never compromises the truth he wants to speak. We are not left in any doubt as to his position on any matter he discusses. This is why we can be sure that the sins he lists here are serious because of the attention he gives them. They are all sins that lead to or are a result of too much self-focus. As he affirms at the end of the text for the Second Reading, it is Christ who should be our focus.
Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
1 Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. 9 Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices 10 andhave put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.
GOSPEL
Avarice destroys relationships as it undermines the trust and mutual belief in each other. Avarice causes us to refuse to accept that we are different and demands that God treat everyone in exactly the same way. Can you think of a recipe for life more boring than this? We should rejoice in our differences as they are the basis for a greater variety of experiences of the goodness of God to us. Let us be grateful that in our uniqueness God loves us and He knows and acts upon what is best for us as individuals.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” 14 He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” 15 Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. 17 He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ 18 And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods 19 and I shall say to myself, ‘Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ 21 Thus will it be for the one who store up treasure for themselves but is not rich in what matters to God.”
think: Let us be grateful that in our uniqueness God loves us and He knows and acts upon what is best for us as individuals.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Maccabees 9-10
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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