Daily Readings - Sat Sep 24 2022
Ecclesiastes
9So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning all these things, God will bring you to judgment10Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty
1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the time of affliction arrives and the years draw near, about which you will say, "These do not please me.2Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain3when the guardians of the house will tremble, and the strongest men will waver, and those who grind grain will be idle, except for a small number, and those who look through the keyholes will be darkened4And they will close the doors to the street, when the voice of he who grinds the grain will be humbled, and they will be disturbed at the sound of a flying thing, and all the daughters of song shall become deaf5Likewise, they will fear the things above them, and they will dread the way. The almond tree will flourish; the locust will be fattened; and the caper plant will be scattered, because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall wander around in the street6Before the silver cord is broken, and the golden band pulls away, and the pitcher is crushed over the fountain, and the wheel is broken above the cistern7and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it8Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity
Luke
43And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and he healed the boy, and he restored him to his father44And all were astonished at the greatness of God. And as everyone was wondering over all that he was doing, he said to his disciples: "You must set these words in your hearts. For it shall be that the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men.45But they did not understand this word, and it was concealed from them, so that they did not perceive it. And they were afraid to question him about this word
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of life, its fleeting moments, and the eternal truths that guide us. The first reading from Ecclesiastes reminds us to rejoice in our youth and to follow our hearts, yet it also warns us not to forget our Creator. It paints a vivid picture of the passing of time and the inevitability of decline and death, urging us to seek meaning beyond the superficial pleasures of life. The passage is a call to live with purpose and to remember that our actions have consequences, for "God will bring you to judgment."
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus, who heals a boy and then speaks to his disciples about his own future suffering. The disciples, however, fail to understand Jesus' words, and they are afraid to ask him about them. This moment in the Gospel highlights the tension between the wonder of God's power and the mystery of the cross. It reminds us that following Jesus means embracing both the joy of his presence and the difficulty of his mission.
These readings invite us to live with a sense of balance and perspective. Ecclesiastes encourages us to enjoy the gifts of life while remaining mindful of its deeper purpose. Luke reminds us that true discipleship requires us to trust in God's plan, even when it is hard to understand. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace the present with gratitude, to seek meaning beyond the fleeting, and to trust in God's providence, even in the face of uncertainty. Let us strive to live with hearts that are both joyful and discerning, open to the wonders of God's love and the challenges of following him.