Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday, 25th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, September 24th, 2020
Texts: Eccl. 1:2-11; Ps. 90:3-6.12-14.17; Luke 9:7-9
Today's first reading calls us to sober reflection. Nothing worths dieing for under the Sun. It says, "What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the Sun?" It reminds us that nothing to hold on to in this world; everything is revolving. Things are in circling motion; they are passing away. Is there anything intoxicating us now? It had been the same to some people in the past. Do we find anything interesting? Our generation is not the first to experience it and it will not be the last to do so. Nothing is to be adored in this world, for we will soon lose them, they will soon pass away. The reading says, "vanity upon vanity all is vanity
The reading encourages us to lift our hearts to God. Only God that does not change; he does not cast shadow; he remains, old yet ever new. The gospel reading shows us that only God endures. Though John the Baptist had been killed, the presence of God continues in the life of Jesus Christ; God's work continues and did not end with John the Baptist. It continues in the life of Jesus Christ in a new, excellent and dynamic way.
God is eternal. Our faith tells us that we are made for eternal life. Since this world is passing away, the reading makes it obvious that this world is not our home, and so our home should be sought somewhere else. Our home should be sought in God.
Man's life even passes away. The psalm describes our life in this world thus: "You turn men back to dust, and say, 'Return, O children of men.' To your eyes a thousand years are yesterday, come and gone, or like a watch in the night. You sweep them away like a dream, like grass which is fresh in the morning. In the morning it sprouts and is fresh; by evening it withers and fades." Our life in this world is like a dream, a passing thing. As a dream it is a byproduct of our existence that must end so that we can wake to reality of our life.
Man's life in this world is not constant also. In today's office of the reading, St. Augustine says, "One we have despaired of suddenly changes and becomes excellent. A man of whom we have anticipated much suddenly fails and becomes very bad. Neither our fear nor our love has any certainty. What each man is today, he himself scarcely knows. Yet he has some idea of what he is today. But what he will be tomorrow, not even he himself knows."
Our minds should not be set on the things of this world. Our destiny in this world is not to love the things of this world but to know God, love him, and serve him so as to be happy with him forever in the next (Penny Catechism no.2). We are to care for the things of this world (Gen. 2:15), not to adore them.
Lord our God, dispel the darkness of our hearts, clear our vision that we may know we are made for you, to know, love and serve you. Amen.
Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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