When I first began teaching high school, I seemed to connect easily with the so-called troublemakers. They could tell I understood them. One student in particular stands out. Just before the end of the school year, I was called into the principal’s office where I found her with her parents. She had deliberately failed her English class — a bold act to ensure she wouldn’t graduate. Her only reason? “I don’t want to, I don’t feel like it.” I realized she was rebelling not just to cause pain, but to avoid becoming what she saw in her parents — people trapped by success, wealth, and expectations. When her father shouted, “Do you think I like going to work every day?” it all clicked. She saw their lives as lifeless routines, disconnected from deeper purpose. Her protest was a cry for authenticity.

This encounter made me reflect on Ecclesiastes: “All is vanity… what profit comes from all the toil?” It’s a question today’s readings confront us with: What truly matters? Jesus warns against greed, reminding us that life isn’t defined by possessions. The poet Mary Oliver asks poignantly, “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” These aren’t just poetic musings — they challenge us to reflect on how we spend our time, energy, and resources.