Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Theme: “Seek What Is Above: From Vanity to Eternity”


🪶 Introduction

A wealthy farmer once had a bumper harvest. He built bigger barns, then proudly said to himself, “Soul, eat, drink, and be merry.” That night, God replied: “You fool!”

Harsh? Not quite. It’s a wake-up call. Today’s readings gently (and not so gently) invite us to ask: Am I rich in what matters to God?

😂 

A priest asked children: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
One said, “Rich!” Another said, “Famous!”
Then a quiet boy said, “I just want to go to heaven.”
The priest smiled: “Now there’s a wise investor.”

📖 The Word of God

1st Reading – Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21–23
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
Qoheleth (the Preacher) observes life’s futility: one labors hard, only for others to enjoy the fruit. Without God, all achievements seem pointless. It’s not nihilism—it’s a sobering call to purpose.

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 90
This prayer admits the brevity of life and asks God to “teach us to number our days.” It’s a plea to live wisely, making our short time count in eternity’s light.

2nd Reading – Colossians 3:1–5, 9–11
Paul exhorts us: “Seek what is above, not what is on earth.” Put to death earthly desires, especially greed, which is idolatry. Our identity is hidden with Christ in God—not in possessions or status.

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This frames today’s Gospel: our emptiness before God opens us to receive all that truly matters.

Gospel – Luke 12:13–21
A man wants Jesus to settle a family inheritance dispute. Jesus shifts the focus: “Beware of all greed.”
He tells a parable: a rich man plans to store surplus grain, thinking his security is guaranteed. But death interrupts, proving he was not rich in what matters to God.

🔗 Connection of the Readings

  • Ecclesiastes reflects on the futility of wealth without purpose.

  • The Psalm invites us to live with eternal perspective.

  • Paul reminds us to put on our heavenly self, not our consumerist one.

  • Jesus warns us about the spiritual blindness of greed.

All the readings converge on one truth: What matters to God should matter to us.

❓ Reflection Questions

  1. What am I building bigger barns for in my life? My comfort or God's kingdom?

  2. Do I spend more time securing financial stability than cultivating spiritual growth?

  3. How do I measure success: by wealth, or by wisdom and love?

  4. What would being “rich toward God” look like this week?

🌍 Implications for Daily Living (Jubilee Year & Synod)

Jubilee Year calls for release, simplicity, and return—a letting go of false securities to rediscover the God who provides.
Synodality urges us to listen to each other’s needs. How can we walk together if we are too busy storing up treasure for ourselves?

This Sunday invites us to:

  • Prioritise heavenly investments.

  • Share generously.

  • Live more lightly and freely.

  • Value community over accumulation.

💡 Inspiration / Motivation

The richest people are not those with bulging accounts, but those with peace, generosity, purpose, and love in abundance.

📜 Quote

“Try to live simply, so others may simply live.” — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

“You can’t take it with you – but you can send it ahead.” — Anonymous

🧵 Final Thoughts

Being rich is not a sin. Forgetting God is.
Greed doesn't look like evil—it often wears the face of “prudence” and “success.”
But Jesus asks: “Are you rich in what matters to God?”

Let’s live this week with eternal purpose, not temporary profit.

🙏 Concluding Prayer

Lord God,
You are my true treasure.
Teach me to store up riches in heaven,
not in barns of pride, wealth, or comfort.
Help me number my days with wisdom,
to seek what is above,
and to live generously with what You have given me.
Make me rich in faith,
poor in spirit,
and filled with compassion
as I walk with others on this synodal journey.
Amen.

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