This Sunday’s scripture asks three things of us: to make prudent use of the gifts given us; to keep our focus on the true riches that are to come rather than on the transitory wealth of this earthly life; and so, to want and to choose whatever leads to God’s life deepening in us.
The Preacher of the First Reading, by exploring the vanity of earthly endeavours, calls us to remember God in all we do.
The Preacher of the Gospel (Jesus himself), tells of the parable of the rich man laying up treasure for himself in barns. He demonstrates the folly of accumulating wealth for wealth’s sake.
The Psalm reminds us that we ourselves are transitory and, like grass, come and go in the blink of an eye. But in the Lord, our refuge from generation to generation, do we find our true meaning.
Therefore, St Paul, in the Second Reading, encourages us to put away all that is not of Christ in favour of a Christ-centred life. Then Christ will be all in all.