August 3, 2025・18th Sunday in Ordinary Time ( C)

Ecclesiastes 1.2,2:21-23・Psalm 95.1+2,5+6,7+8・ Colossians 3.1-5,9-11・ Luke 12.13-21

Our readings today set each one`s mood to re-visit (to review) and honestly examine what we truly value and prioritize in our everyday lives. Indeed, we will surely know what we have been valuing and prioritizing as we look-back in time when we were ask by people around us as to what we wanted to be when we grow up. We have a target that as we grow up and after years of working hard, we can tell ourselves how we have been successful in life according to our own dreams & self-gained expertise. Many people who have passed away in fact are so well remembered now according to what they have done and contributed to the world. In fact, we admire those kind of people and they become our model to reach our dreams too, until we can tell ourselves too that we have been successful in life. It is always good to be inspired, stay alive and healthy, and “just enjoy what we have on earth for our own consumption. However, each one is called to have a heart detached from the wealth of this world.

I believe that our reflection today will be able to further help us to realize what things “in this life” are truly important. Maybe we can talk about “attachment and detachment” things on this matter. While we are always encouraged and are indeed called to become responsible stewards of all things that we see and all that we continue to create in this world, we are at the same time being reminded to look beyond material wealth and focus more on what is eternal. Human experience tells that the worldly riches and the so-called “success in life,” can bring us to emptiness deep within. In the context of Christian faith therefore we are always reminded that only the eternal God can give lasting joy and fulfillment. We are called to refrain from greed and storing too much riches. With the many advices we have had from many people we trust, such us our teachers and wise men (people who have well examined their lives) of our days, we learn that selfish desires and attachment to worldly things separate us from God and authentic and healthy relationship with other people.