Summer winds down, and the liturgical calendar begins to heat up. Another 20 saints’ days, this month equally divided among women and men, including a few significant observances: Transfiguration (6), Assumption (holy day of obligation, 15), and Queenship of Mary (22).

Qoheleth moans that all of life’s labors come to naught. What kind of reward do I expect for the work I do? When I feel my efforts are in vain, what beliefs about life shore me up?

Just this morning, I was talking to Qoheleth on the phone. He’s the landlord of a friend of mine who has fallen behind in her rent. Qoheleth’s not a bad guy, when it comes down to it—actually has a sense of humor and is quite pleasant.

Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.”

Years back I needed to get my driver’s license renewed. It meant waiting in line to get a number to wait in line in to get a seat to wait to be called up. I was prepared not to take the process personally. That was no easy task.

I knew a woman who prided herself on her disdain for worldly goods. She would echo the gospel and say, “Life doesn’t consist of possessions; it’s all about relationships.” And yet she treated her relationships like possessions.

My sisters and brother in Christ, let us pray to God to renew our lives.

Vanity not only distances us from God: it makes us look ridiculous.