Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 24, 2020
First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1.2-11
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.
Psalm 90
1Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.3Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.4For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.5Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.6In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.7For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.12So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.13Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.14O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.15Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.16Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.17And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Gospel: Luke 9.7-9
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected reflections on the human search for meaning and truth. The first reading from Ecclesiastes presents a somber meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the futility of earthly pursuits. The author laments that all human endeavors under the sun are “vanity of vanities,” a cycle of repetition and impermanence. The earth endures, but human generations rise and fall, and even the greatest achievements are forgotten over time. This reading invites us to confront the limits of human ambition and the transience of worldly gains.
The Gospel reading shifts our focus to the confusion and curiosity of Herod the tetrarch. Herod has heard of Jesus’ mighty works, but he is torn between doubt and intrigue. Some suggest that John the Baptist has risen from the dead, while others speculate that Elijah or another ancient prophet has reappeared. Herod’s uncertainty reflects the human tendency to seek meaning in the familiar, even when faced with something entirely new and transformative. His desire to “see him” reveals a deep-seated longing for truth, though it is clouded by his own preconceptions and fears.
These readings remind us that the search for meaning is universal, yet it is easy to become mired in doubt or distracted by the cycles of the world. Ecclesiastes warns us against chasing after things that will inevitably pass away, while the Gospel invites us to look beyond the surface and embrace the radical newness of God’s plan. In our own lives, we often find ourselves caught between the futility of earthly pursuits and the hope of something greater. Let us turn to Christ, who alone can satisfy our deepest longings and offer true fulfillment. May we not be content with the fleeting, but instead seek the eternal truths that only God can provide.