18th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C 3rd August 2025

The book of Ecclesiastes, where the first reading was taking, was perhaps included in the Scripture, to helps us understand how to question our certainties again, it also helps us to make up our minds, about the realities of life.

The assumption that happiness is found in wealth and that wealth is a sign of blessing from God, was laid to rest by our first reading. Wealth gotten through genuine means, must be at the service of humanity and to the glory of God. Accumulation of unnecessary wealth is vanity, since we go with nothing from this world at the end of time.

St. Paul’s in the second reading, reminds us of the assurance of the resurrection. Through our baptism into Christ Jesus, we are sharers of Christ’s risen life. This is a call to a continue renewal of our intimacy with God as our Father through Jesus Christ and lead by the Holy Spirit, who give us confidence and a sure hope of everlasting life. Thus, we must in faith continue the struggle to ward off all evil, and allow Christ Jesus to transform our lives, for Christ has won the battle already.

Jesus in the Gospel, clearly showed us that he is simply not comfortable and he uninterested in possessions; worldly possessions have nothing to do with God’s Kingdom. In as much as we need material things to survive, our lives and energies must not solely depend on accumulations of properties.

Material things should be acquired for the good and at the service of humanity and to the glory of God.

We should use what we have for the betterment of our world, and not to our selfish ends.

Our treasures should be built on what can last forever, and should be stored where they cannot be destroyed. Heaven is our focus, we should try to put ten percent (if not fifty percent) of our time to build our Spiritual treasures.

Fr. Jerome Otitoyomi Dukiya C.S.Sp.