To say that we have quite a lot of faith in ourselves is not an over-statement.
For example, we set the alarm clock the night before even though there is no guarantee that we will see the sunrise the next morning.
We plan so much for our future security as if we know what is going to happen to us in the future.
Surely, we need to plan for the future, or at least for the next day, but the reality is that we won't know how things will turn out in the future and how much of the future we will live to see.
When St. Paul, in the 1st reading, talked about the issues regarding celibacy, marriage, about enjoying life and getting engrossed with the world, he had this to say - "the world as we know it is passing away".
For him, in his own opinion, the "time is short" and he expected the Lord Jesus to return soon and hence all human activity was to be geared in preparation for that occasion.
Hence, he gave his views about marriage, about being single, about life and about world affairs.
Although the Lord Jesus did not return as soon as he expected, nonetheless St. Paul's exhortation about the time being short and that the world as we know is passing away needs to be heeded.
So whether we are happy or sad, contented or in need, rich or poor, rejoicing or mourning, it will only be for a short time and it will also pass away.
And when all things have passed, only these three remain: faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.