Our readings for this 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time seem to undermine the efforts of hard work. However, as Tony explains, the emphasis on spiritual detachment in our readings for this weekend are not meant to undermine work, but instead provide directionality to our efforts.
Mass Readings:
Reading 1: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
Reading 2: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
Gospel: Luke 12:13-21
Endnotes:
Ecclesiastes 1:13-14
Ecclesiastes 1:17-18
Ecclesiastes 2:4-6
Ecclesiastes 2:8-10
Ecclesiastes 2:11
Ecclesiastes 2:19
On the distinction between greed or avarice and envy see Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2534-2536.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
1 Corinthians 4:7
Genesis 1:28-29
Genesis 2:9
Genesis 3:16
Genesis 3:17-19
Tony Crescio is the founder of FRESHImage Ministries. He holds an MTS from the University of Notre Dame and is currently a PhD candidate in Christian Theology at Saint Louis University. His research focuses on the intersection between moral and sacramental theology. His dissertation is entitled, Presencing the Divine: Augustine, the Eucharist and the Ethics of Exemplarity.
Tony’s academic publications can be found here.