Daily Readings - Thu Sep 27 2018
Ecclesiastes
2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
Luke
7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;8And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.9And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and the human search for meaning. In the first reading from Ecclesiastes, we hear the familiar refrain, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." The author laments the cyclical and repetitive nature of life, where generations come and go, and the earth remains unchanged. The sun rises and sets, rivers flow to the sea and return, yet humanity struggles to find lasting fulfillment. This passage reminds us that, despite our efforts and labors, much of what we experience in life is transient and unsatisfying. It challenges us to look beyond the surface level and seek deeper meaning.
In the Gospel, we encounter Herod, a man consumed by doubt and curiosity. He has heard of Jesus' works, but he is unsure who Jesus is. Some think Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead, others believe he is Elijah or one of the prophets of old. Herod's confusion reflects the spiritual blindness of those who cannot see beyond the immediate and the familiar. Like the author of Ecclesiastes, Herod is trapped in a cycle of uncertainty, unable to recognize the truth standing before him. This passage calls us to examine our own hearts and ask: Are we, like Herod, so focused on the temporary and the familiar that we fail to see the extraordinary work of God in our midst?
These readings remind us that true fulfillment and understanding come not from chasing the fleeting things of this world but from seeking the eternal and the divine. Ecclesiastes urges us to look beyond the vanity of life and find meaning in God, who is unchanging and everlasting. The Gospel challenges us to open our hearts and minds to the possibility of encountering God in unexpected ways. Let us not be like Herod, stuck in a cycle of doubt and confusion. Instead, let us seek the truth with humility and faith, knowing that only in God will we find the peace and fulfillment we so deeply desire.