Putting God at the Centre
The readings this Sunday invite us to pause and think about what really matters in life. Ecclesiastes reflects on how all our hard work can feel meaningless when it is done just for ourselves. We work hard, we stress, we strive for success, but if it’s all disconnected from God, we are left feeling empty. When our efforts are driven only by personal gain, the burden becomes heavy.
Jesus tells a parable in the Gospel of Luke that speaks directly to this. A man’s land produces a good harvest, and all he can think about is storing it up for himself, believing that he can now relax and enjoy life. But God calls him a fool, reminding him that life is fragile and that we cannot take our riches with us. Jesus warns us not to fall into the trap of thinking that wealth or possessions define a successful or meaningful life.
Saint Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, reminds us that we are called to something greater. We are not defined by what we own or even by what we do, but by our connection to Christ. Our real life is with Him. We are invited to turn our focus away from temporary, worldly things and toward spiritual and eternal truths.
Each of us has been placed here for a reason. God has given us, not just jobs or roles, but opportunities to love, to serve, and to live generously and faithfully. When we put God first in all we do, our work becomes joyful because we know it is part of His plan. Even when the path is unclear, God will always guide us.
Let us not be like the man in the parable who built bigger barns. Instead, may we invest our lives in relationships, in faith, in generosity, and in growing closer to Christ. This is how we live wisely, faithfully, and with purpose, with God at the centre of it all.
Ajith Nissangaratchie, Parish Pastoral Council Chair
