Being Wise or Foolish?

Today's liturgy readings, Ecclesiastes 1: 2; 2: 21-23, Col 3: 1-5, 9-11, Luke 12:  13-21, as well as the responsorial psalm, Psalm 90, all speak to us of what is important to God, what matters and what life here on earth is all about.

Ecclesiastes speaks about vanity. One person labors strenuously, applying all of one's energy and skills to productivity and, when he/she leaves this earth, leaves the results of that work to one who has not labored at all.  In the Gospel, a rich person is thinking of building larger barns to contain all of the possessions accumulated over the years--this person has been very productive and needs more storage space. This individual's plan is, then, to enjoy life, saying to oneself: Now you "...have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink and be merry."  God says to such a one:  "You fool, this night  your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom shall they belong?  Thus shall it be for all who who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich in the things that matter to God."

Am I storing up material things, renting more storage space for all that I have accumulated while neglecting the things of God, ignoring the needs of my neighbor for love and kindness, for understanding and compassionate caring, for honesty and forgiveness? Am I scrambling each day to store up things which the world says is important or am I growing "rich in the things that matter to God"?

The responsorial psalm of today's liturgy reminds me that I will return to dust and that I need to remember that, to God, "a thousand years...are like...a watch in the night." The psalmist reminds me that God makes "an end of [us] in [our] sleep; the next morning [we] are like the changing grass, which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades."  With the psalmist let us pray:  "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart....Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days."  May we share that joy and gladness with others.  May we make a difference in the lives of others today by the love we give to them, by our honesty and compassion. May we spend time with others today in a way that brings them joy, relieves their pain or suffering and glories God.