August 1 Gospel: Lk 12:13–21

Sunday
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

►1st Reading: Eccl 1:2; 2:21–23

Here are the words of the  Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
All is meaningless – says the Teacher – meaningless, meaningless!
For here was a man who toiled in all wisdom, knowledge and skill and he must leave all to someone who has not worked for it. This is meaningless and a great misfortune. For what profit is there for a man in all his work and heart-searching under the sun? All his days bring sorrow, his work grief; he hasn’t, moreover, peaceful rest at night: that too is meaningless.

►2nd Reading: Col 3:1–5, 9–11

So then, if you are risen with  Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on earthly things. For you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, reveals himself, you also will be revealed with him in Glory.
Therefore, put to death what is earthly in your life, that is immorality, impurity, inordinate passions, wicked desires and greed which is a way of worshiping idols.

Do not lie to one another. You have been stripped of the old self and its way of thinking to put on the new, which is being renewed and is to reach perfect knowledge and the likeness of its creator. There is no room for distinction between Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, foreigner, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.

►Gospel: Lk 12:13–21

Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus, “Master, tell my brother to share with me the family inheritance.” He replied, “My friend, who has appointed me as your judge or your attorney?” Then Jesus said to the people, “Be on your guard and avoid every kind of greed, for even though you have many possessions, it is not that which gives you life.”

And Jesus continued with this story, “There was a rich man and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought: ‘What shall I do? For I am short of room to store my harvest.’ So this is what he planned: ‘I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones to store all this grain, which is my wealth. Then I may say to myself: ‘My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.’ But God said to him: ‘You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you; tell me who shall get all you have put aside?’ This is the lot of the one who stores up riches instead of amassing for God.”

REFLECTION

“Guard yourself from every kind of greed because your true life
is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be.”

What is inside of me
is not determined by the things
I have managed to accumulate.
The riches of my life
depend on the way I live life,
not what I acquire in it.

Penitential Act

What Are We Living for?

What do we consider most important in life? The message of today confronts us with this question. And it is basic for our Christian living. Are there more important things for us than money, goods, and power? Do we find love of God and neighbor, friendship and affection, and concern for each other greater and lasting and worthy of living for? What is the answer we give Jesus today?

With empty hands and hearts we stand before the Lord
and ask him to forgive and heal us.(PAUSE)

Lord Jesus, you were born in poverty.
When we look too much for a life of comfort,
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you had no stone
on which to let your head rest.
When we put our security in the things we have,
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, your concern was
God’s honor and the joy of people.
When we fail to share with those in need,
Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us our greed
and our over-concern for material things
Make us generous in sharing
and lead us to everlasting life.
Amen.

COMMON PRAYER

Father, you care, and so in you we trust.
Our hearts are divided, yet we have to
provide care and security to those we love.

Do not allow greed to blind us
so as to pile up goods we do not need
and things that do not really matter.

Make us generous sharers of what we have
with the hungry and the poor,
that we may become rich in your sight.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.