“VANITY of vanities. All things are vanities!” Some thinkers say that these words from the Book of Ecclesiastes are the harshest words of the Old Testament Bible and yet the most Christian ones. It’s because they prepare us for the words of Christ in the Gospel. They expose us to the ruthlessness of life and yet awaken us to what matters most in life, which is our relationship with God.
We should know. For, indeed, even if we have all the material things we need in this world to live a comfortable life, this richness would never be an absolute guarantee to total happiness, contentment and peace. Ask a man who is a billionaire and this person will tell you that he is longing for something more that will complete him. He would wake up in the morning to marvel at all the wealth that he has gained in this life and yet when he searches his heart honestly, there is a big spot that yearns for the transcendent. That’s why the Bible tells us “to think of what is above” and to seek the things that “matters to God”.
The Bible tells us that it would be foolish for us to think that money and other wealth are all that we need. Jesus reminds us about this truth in the Gospel regarding a man who stored up his surplus of grain and other goods in a big barn instead of giving them away, and decided to spend the rest of his life in resting, eating, drinking, and being merry. Then God said to him, “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you, and all the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?”
God does not tell us to be poor and not to enjoy the world that he has created for us. Rather, he tells us not to be selfish with our blessings but to share them with others, especially the poor. In fact, he would prefer that we just have enough that we need to be comfortable without leaving the poor people behind.
God also tells us to seek heavenly treasures and not just earthly ones. It’s foolish for us to set our hearts merely on the things of this world. We can enjoy the good things and pleasures of this world but not to be attached to them. Life is more than making money, sending kids to school, going shopping, dining out, and going on vacation. It is also about growing in prayer, faith, love and charity towards others. Ultimately, it’s about letting go of this earthly life to be with God, who alone can satisfy us.
We will always be struggling with accepting and living this wisdom of God as proclaimed in Scriptures because of our human appetite for the attractions of this world. Yet, we would be foolish not to believe in It. May His wisdom always guide our thoughts and actions so that we can gain true happiness and peace. Amen.
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
