Ecclesiastes 1:2-11. Ps. 90:3-6,12-14,17, Luke 9:7-9“
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
Today’s first reading takes our minds to that popular saying from the book of Ecclesiastes or Qoheleth: “Vanity of Vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has a man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun?” The word ‘vanity’ comes from the Hebrew word ‘Hebel’ which means “breath” and is used metaphorically for anything transitory, frail, or unsatisfying.
When the author of Ecclesiastes speaks of everything in the world as vanity, he indirectly says everything in this world is just like a mere breath; that is, short-lived. Nothing in this world lasts forever or is capable of bringing us everlasting happiness.
Herod is troubled in the Gospel passage because he heard about the fame of Jesus and some people were saying that he was John the Baptist risen to life. He regretted what he did to John the Baptist. The feeling of regret or better put, emptiness is what comes to us when we realize our past actions were mere acts of foolishness, especially those spurred by vain ambitions.
Could it be that I would one day get to the end of my life and look back at all these things I was craving for, all these things I worked so hard to acquire, all these things for which I made many heads roll and tell myself they were all vanity? What is the point of committing a sin today just to get something that I would deeply regret tomorrow?
Let us pray: Almighty ever-living Father, bless me with wisdom and open my eyes to see the emptiness of this life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of week 25 in Ordinary Time, Bible Study: Ecclesiastes 1:2-11. Ps. 90:3-6,12-14,17, Luke 9:7-9).
© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu