Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 22, 2022
First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1.2-11
2Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.3What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?4A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.5The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.6The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.7All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.8All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.9What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.10Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.11There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.
Psalm 90
1Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.3You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!"4For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.5You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:6in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.7For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.8You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.9For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.10The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.11Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?12So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.13Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!14Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.15Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.16Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.17Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
Gospel: Luke 9.7-9
7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,8by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen.9Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the human search for meaning and truth. In the first reading from Ecclesiastes, we hear the wisdom of the ages: "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." The author laments the fleeting nature of life and the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The earth remains, but human generations come and go, striving and laboring without lasting fulfillment. The rivers flow to the sea, yet the sea is never full, and the eye and ear are never satisfied. This is the paradox of human existence—our efforts, though noble, are temporary, and true fulfillment eludes us. The reading reminds us that nothing under the sun is truly new; history repeats itself, and our memories of the past fade into obscurity.
In the Gospel, we encounter Herod, a man consumed by doubt and curiosity. He has heard of Jesus and the miracles being attributed to him, but he is confused. Some say Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead, others claim he is Elijah or one of the ancient prophets. Herod, who had beheaded John, is now haunted by the possibility that John has returned. He seeks to see Jesus, driven by a mix of fear and curiosity. Herod’s reaction reflects the human condition—our tendency to seek answers to life’s great mysteries, yet often with uncertainty and skepticism. Like Herod, we may find ourselves questioning who Jesus is and what he means for our lives.
These readings challenge us to examine our own search for meaning. Ecclesiastes reminds us that earthly pursuits, though they may occupy our time, cannot satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. True fulfillment comes not from the fleeting things of this world but from seeking the eternal and the divine. Herod’s story, on the other hand, invites us to move beyond doubt and curiosity. It calls us to encounter Jesus with openness and faith, to let go of our skepticism and allow his presence to transform us. In our daily lives, let us strive to balance our earthly responsibilities with a deeper spiritual focus. May we trust in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems uncertain, and may we seek the eternal truths that bring lasting peace and fulfillment.