The readings today are about the passing things of the world verses the riches of heaven. In the first reading today from the Book of Ecclesiastes, spoke about the things of earth as vanity. “Vanity of vanities, says, Qoheleth, vanity of vanities. All Things are vanity.”
St. Paul in the second reading said “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” He said, “Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Stop lying to one another.”
The Gospel tells us to not be concerned about earthly possessions nor to seek wealth for the sake of wealth only to store more for the sake of storing it or to not waste time with the worldly things of pleasure: to eat, drink and be merry, because we do not know when our earthly life will end. God said to the rich man, “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom- will they belong?” Jesus then said, “Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves, but are not rich in the matters of God.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1723) says, “The beatitude we are promised confronts us with decisive moral choices. It invites us to purify our hearts of bad instincts and to seek the love of God above all else. It teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement - however beneficial it may be - such as science, technology, and art, or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love: All bow down before wealth. Wealth is one idol of the day and notoriety is a second. . . .
The things of the world are money, possessions, health and notoriety.
Fame, notoriety, causes some to want special treatment, rather than to want to help others in their need. Extra wealth for one’s own sake can be a stumbling block to heaven, because God wants those who have-- to help those who have not. Jesus said, “What you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.”
God’s matters involve love. How we treat our neighbor. How we avoid offending God or hurting others by our sins. The matters of God involve virtue, holiness, love and self-sacrifice.
St. Therese of Lissiex noticed a splinter of wood on the floor. She feared one of the sisters in the convent may get stuck in the foot with it, out love for God and for the sisters, she reached down and picked up the splinter of wood and threw it in the trash. She said the Lord spoke to her and said, this little thing you did for love of the sisters was greater than if a man, were to build a skyscraper for his own notoriety and not for the glory and honor of God or love of others. Today, let us ask the Virgin Mary to help us to seek the treasures above and not the things of the earth.
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