St. Joseph's Catholic Church

Vanity of Vanities! All is Vanity

Today’s readings confront us with one of life’s most uncomfortable truths: the fleeting nature of earthly possessions. They challenge us to examine what we are living for—and what we’re willing to die for. Are we striving for treasure that perishes, or treasure that endures?

The first reading from Ecclesiastes seems dark: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!” The author, traditionally seen as Solomon, reflects on the futility of accumulating wealth and wisdom when, in the end, we leave everything behind. It’s a sobering reminder that worldly achievements alone do not satisfy the human soul.

We often think that if we work harder, earn more, or get more recognition, then we’ll be happy. But Ecclesiastes reminds us: life without God is empty.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. Instead of thanking God or sharing with others, he builds bigger barns to store his excess, saying, “Eat, drink, and be merry!” But God calls him a fool and says, “This very night your life will be demanded of you.”

Notice: the man isn’t condemned for being rich, but for placing his security in wealth and excluding God from his plans. He lived for himself, not for God or for others.

How easy it is to become like that man in today’s consumerist world—obsessed with storing up goods, worried about success, yet forgetting eternity. Jesus’ warning is clear: “So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

May the Eucharist we receive today fill us with what truly lasts—God’s grace, God’s love, and the joy of being rich toward Him. Amen.