Daily Readings - Sat Sep 24 2022
Ecclesiastes
9Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.10So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.
1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"-2before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;3when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;4when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;5when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.6Remember him-before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well,7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.8"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"
Luke
43And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.44While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men."45But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
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.