The three Readings today all tell of the contrasts between people who have faith in Christ and those who do not. All three Readings today bemoan the problems of worldly people. The important message is that we recognize God’s gracious blessings and so reflect them as we live. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15) and warns about one who is “not rich toward God” (v. 21). When in Ecclesiastes “the Preacher” sees vanity all around, he writes, “to the one who pleases Him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy” (Ecclesiastes 2:26). In the Epistle, Paul promises that we who, in our Baptism, “have been raised with Christ, . . . will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1a, 4b). We have been given not only physical life but also eternal life. Today is a day to look up to the things that are above and remember our Baptism.
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