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Reflection on this Sunday's scripture readings
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The Book of Ecclesiastes was written around the third century BCE and is part of the Wisdom literature in the Bible. The author bemoans the fact that everything seems to him to be a vanity by which he means breath or empty vapour. What is the point of working all one's life, he asks, just so that someone else can enjoy the fruits of one's labours?
Jesus addresses a similar theme in today's Gospel. He teaches that possessions don't make a person secure and so worrying about our future wealth should not be the focus of our thoughts and energies. To illustrate this teaching, Jesus tells the parable of a rich man who had to build new barns to house his growing stores of grain. His concern is merely for himself and his own comfort and enjoyment. He has no thought of the needs of others.
These two readings bring us to the question of the purpose of life. For Christians that purpose is to follow Christ in bringing about God's kingdom on earth and to look forward to life eternal with God. It is to have concern for others and not just for ourselves. Let us pray with today's psalm which asks us to "kneel before the God who made us for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture, the flock that is led by his hand."