Sunday between 31 July and 6 August
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
First Reading - Ecclesiastes 1.12-14; 2.18-26a
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes.
When I, the Teacher,
was king, over Israel, in Jerusalem,
I applied my mind
to understand, by wisdom,
all that is done
under heaven.
I saw all the deeds that are done
under the sun.
And look, this is what I saw: that it is
a tiresome burden
that God has given
to occupy humankind;
that all of it
is vanity,
like chasing after the wind.
I came to despise
all that I had done,
and all that I had laboured to achieve,
seeing that I must leave it all
to those who come after me,
not knowing
whether they will be
wise, or foolish.
Yet they will be master
over everything
for which I laboured -
everything to which
I applied my wisdom.
So I gave up my heart to despair
concerning all my work,
because even one who has laboured
with wisdom, and knowledge, and skill,
must leave it all
to be enjoyed
by another, who did not work for it;
and this is a great injustice.
For mortals gain nothing
for all their labour under the sun.
Their days are full of pain,
and each task is a burden.
Even at night,
their minds do not rest.
But then I saw this,
from the hand of God:
that there is nothing better for mortals
than to eat, and drink,
and find enjoyment in their work;
for no mortal
can eat,
or drink, or find joy,
without God.
And while the sinner labours
to store up wealth
that will only be taken away,
to the one who pleases God, God gives
wisdom, and knowledge, and joy.
This is the word of the Lord.
Second Reading - Hebrews 10.32-36
A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.
When you first received the light of Christ,
you endured great suffering,
with public slanders, and persecutions.
And you supported
those who were suffering in the same way.
You had compassion
on those who were in prison.
And you cheerfully accepted
the loss of your possessions,
knowing that you have
a greater possession
that does not pass away.
Never let go
of that faith and confidence,
for it holds a great reward.
And then, when you have persevered
in doing the will of God, you will receive
all that God has promised.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel - Luke 12.13-21
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Luke.
Someone in the crowd
said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, tell my brother
to divide his inheritance with me.’
But Jesus said, ‘Watch out,
and be on your guard,
against every kind of jealousy and greed!
For the richness of your life
is not found
in the quantity
of your worldly possessions!’
And Jesus told them this parable.
‘After another great harvest,
a wealthy land-owner
said to himself,
“I have run out of space
to store all my crops.
I will have to
pull down my barns,
and build larger ones,
to store all my grain,
and all my possessions.
Then, having enough
to last many years,
I will relax,
eat, drink, and be merry.”
But God said
to him, “You fool!
This very night, your life
is being taken from you.
And all the things you have acquired -
whose will they be?”’
And Jesus said to them, ‘This is how it will be
for those who store up
treasure for themselves on earth,
but in God’s eyes
have no riches at all.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.