Daily Readings - Thu Sep 22 2022
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 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.