Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Vanity of Vanities
Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 4 and 17BC
Alleluia: John 14:6
Gospel: Luke 9:7-9
Vanity of Human Toil
If we look at the first verse of Ecclesiastes, it appears that it is written by King Solomon. Qoheleth, in Hebrew, means “preacher”, “teacher, or “collector of sentences". Believed to be written towards the end of King Solomon’s reign, it appears to be a retrospective of his life based upon the wisdom that was granted to him by God.
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
Ecclesiastes 1:2
Using this lens, we can see that as we strive towards things in life, whether it be for success or riches, everything that we have will fade away. At first glance, this can be an extremely pessimistic view of life. If I go to work every day and own a grand house and a fancy car, or I am known internationally and am famous, and all that is going to be left when I die is the same as what a person who lives in poverty has: a grave, then what is the point?
The point is, we should not be focusing on the things or the people of this world. Yes, we need to survive. We need to eat, have shelter, have a family, have children, and live moderately comfortably. But our overall focus needs to be on Heaven. We also see images of whatever we have today, is never enough for us; we always want more.
What treasures are we storing up in heaven? Is what we are striving for on earth only vanity or is our work and toil for God?
Herod’s Opinion of Jesus
When we read today’s gospel from Luke, we need to understand it from the perspective of that time. Jesus and his apostles were performing miracles, casting out demons, and healing the sick. Herod’s interest in Jesus wasn’t purely so he could see Jesus for the sake of his conversion, but for his own personal gain. If we fast forward to Good Friday, it is to this same Herod that Jesus is sent to by Pontius Pilot and questioned. And when Herod realizes that Jesus is not going to perform miracles for him and Jesus is not at his disposal to command, Herod sends him back to Pilate for judgement.
As we look to Jesus, are we looking for him to perform tricks for us? When we pray, what are we looking for in his answers? If he doesn’t answer us right then and there on our time, do we give up? Do we get frustrated and reject him?
Or do we turn to Jesus and persevere in our prayer? My prayer life has never been stellar. But God has prodded me along these past 27 years. Each time, I try to get better. I have friends who help me now as well as a pastor who cares for my prayer life. Each time I go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he asks me how my prayer life is. And each time he gives me my penance, he gives me something that will help improve it.
Prayer is what will keep us from turning into Herod.
Litany of Humility (by Cardinal Merry del Val, Secretary of State to Pope Saint Pius X (1903-1914)
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
Charity
Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth, bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7).
To have Charity is to love God above all things for Himself and be ready to renounce all created things rather than offend Him by serious sin. ( Matt. 22:36-40)