“Vanity of vanities, All things are vanity!”

Sunday Reflection

Verses: (Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21–23) (Psalm 90 ) (Colossians 3:1–11) (Luke 12:13–21)

“Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” -(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

Today's first reading was from Ecclesiastes. It can feel like a book of despair at first glance. It reminds us starkly that all our striving, our labor, anxieties, sleepless nights, and even our accumulated wealth and wisdom end in nothing if they are not anchored in what truly matters.
“What profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 2:22)

One of the sobering things I have learned in my life of work is this: nothing in this world is more important than life itself. I have seen wealthy people willing to spend whatever it takes in the healthcare setting to stay alive, and yet even that too passes. We do not have that ability, no matter our success and power. All is vanity. Vanity, in its simplest explanation, is something with no substantial value.

Everything around us fades. Everything we cherish under the sun, beauty, wealth, comfort, recognition, is fleeting. "All things are vanity."

Losing a loving parent at a young age has that effect of teaching a boy that everything can, in a blip, come to an end, including us and everything we hold dear and tight on. Today's reading is indeed challenging.

The Psalm also echoes this sobering message but adds a plea to it:
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” (Psalm 90:12)
We are invited to live not in fear of the passing, but in awareness of what truly lasts.

In the Gospel, Jesus warns:
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

He tells the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns to store his wealth, only to die that very night. And the haunting question follows:

“The things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?” (Luke 12:20)

Death is the great equalizer. It humbles both the rich and the poor. Jesus’ response is not to shame wealth but to call us to "be rich in what matters to God" (Luke 12:21), love, mercy, humility, and generosity.

Paul, in the second reading, exhorts us to set our minds on things above:

“If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)

This world seduces us with endless distractions, luxury, status, power, even beauty, on the things we can see and feel. But none of these compare to the eternal richness of life in Christ. This cannot be it. There is too much suffering and injustice. I know with all the pleasures of this world, it is hard and tempting to think of anything better than this.

We must: "put to death, then, the parts of [us] that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)

Yes, the world has a lot to offer, beautiful women, fast cars, mansions, yachts, luxury travels, all we can consume options—you name it. But as Jesus showed us when tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4), the whole world is not worth our soul. We breathe once, and just like that, it can all be gone.

So today, let us ask:
What are we chasing?
What are we storing in our barns?
What are we building our lives on?

Let us love what is eternal, Christ Himself.

I hope you have a blessed and reflective Sunday.

God bless you.

Pal Ronnie