Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!  

The bible has wise things to say about money and possessions. While affirming that we live in a world that involves business dealings and money, it teaches us three important things: that we shouldn’t regard material wealth and possessions as gods, that life is fragile and ultimately in God’s hands and that we need to sort out what is really important and lasting before it is too late.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus said to the man who took issue with his brother’s inheritance: “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” In that age and culture, it is customary for the eldest son to receive most, if not all of the inheritance. But for whatever reason the man had in complaining about the inheritance which his brother got, Jesus was not being unjust when he denied the man’s request for arbitration. Rather, Jesus used the opportunity to teach the man a lesson that would be more beneficial to him than getting a share of the inheritance.

The parable of the rich fool is about a man who presumed that by building bigger barns, he could keep everything for himself so that he could rest, eat, drink and be merry for many years to come. Little did he know that he would die that very night and not have the chance to enjoy anything at all. Besides, someone who had done nothing would get everything. The Book of Ecclesiastes describes this situation perfectly: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!”

“How much is enough?” If we are to apply the lessons learned from the parable of the rich fool, we should realize that life is not at all about accumulating material things. The things of this world are but temporary, and we are just passing through in this life. Today’s readings remind us that we never know when our time is up, nor can we be certain of what tomorrow brings. While we must be prudent in providing for the future, we must not let material possessions become more important than fulfilling our commitments to God and to others.

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is on Thursday, August 15. Since it is a holy day of obligation, a special Mass in Chinese will be celebrated at 12pm.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in his apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus (God Ineffable or Indescribable). The dogma of the Assumption stated that by an entirely unique privilege, the Blessed Virgin Mary overcame sin by her Immaculate Conception, and therefore she was not subject to the law of remaining in the corruption of the grave, and that she did not have to wait until the end of time for the redemption of her body (MD#5). In addition, Mary’s Assumption was in keeping with her dignity as the Mother of God (MD#17), and according to St. John Damascene, just as Mary’s virginity had been kept intact in childbirth, her body should have been kept from all corruption even after death (MD#21).

Hence, the revered Mother of God, from all eternity joined in an exceptionally unique way with Jesus Christ,  immaculate in her conception, a most perfect virgin in her divine motherhood, and the noble associate of the divine Redeemer who has won a complete triumph over sin and its consequences, finally obtained, as the supreme culmination of her privileges, that she should be preserved free from the corruption of the tomb and that, like her own Son, having overcome death, she might be taken up body and soul to the glory of heaven where she, as Queen, sits in splendor at the right hand of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages (MD#40).

Lector Training and Ministers of Holy Communion Training will be next Sunday at 12:30 pm. If you are interested in serving in these ministries, please contact Fr. Bill or Tommy Puk. 

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated in the chapel immediately after the 10:30 am Mass. This sacrament is intended for for persons whose health is seriously impaired by illness or old age.

Pastoral Council meets at 12:30 pm and Finance Council meets at 1:30 pm.