Readings for the Day:
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23: The teacher of wisdom who wrote Ecclesiastes sees that working for mere accumulation of wealth turns life into an empty game, a ‘vanity of vanities.’ Nevertheless, he asserts in the next verse, it is good to find enjoyment in one’s work because such enjoyment is a gift from God.
Colossians 3:1-11: Life in Christ includes a radical reorientation of our values. Just as the newly baptized shed their old clothes and put on new garments, so Christians are called to let go of greed and take hold of a life shaped by God’s love in Christ.
Luke 12:13-21: In God’s reign, the ‘rich will be sent away empty.’ Jesus uses a parable to warn against identifying the worth of one’s life with the value of one’s possessions rather than one’s relationship with God.
‘From Sunday & Seasons, copyright 2024 Augsburg Fortress’
Questions To Ponder:
1— How does the Ecclesiastes text speaks to your life today? (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23)
2—How do you set your mind on things that are above? (Colossians 3:1-11)
3—What does this passage say about things? (Luke 12:13-21)
4—How do these texts speak to you today?
Prayer: Benevolent God, you are the source, the guide, and the goal of our lives. Teach us to love what is worth loving, to reject what is offensive to you, and to treasure what is precious in your sight. Amen.