Luke 9:7-9

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17bc

Luke 9:7-9

Herod the Tetrarch heard about all that was happening,

and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,

“John has been raised from the dead”;

others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;

still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”

But Herod said, “John I beheaded.

Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

And he kept trying to see him.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I surrender my life into your hands. I commend my spirit to your care. Guide my steps today and help me understand the meaning of my life. Help me to know the path I have trod and the steps I need to take.

Encountering the Word of God

1. What if Life is Meaningless? The author of Ecclesiastes, known as Qoheleth or the Preacher, “looks at the world almost exclusively from the standpoint of human reason, experience, and observation” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, 66). The Preacher recognizes that God is Lord over the world, but does not examine our relationship with God in great detail. “From this limited perspective, in which faith is often left out of the picture, the author can only conclude that everything is ‘vanity’ (1:2; 12:8). One could say that Ecclesiastes reveals the problem to which of the Bible offers the solution, namely, that life is meaningless if death is our ultimate destiny and if man has no hope for happiness that reaches beyond the grave” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, 66). Saint Bonaventure takes a different point of view, and says that the three books attributed to Solomon represent three stages of spiritual growth: Proverbs teaches us how to live wisely in the world, Ecclesiastes teaches contempt for worldly things, and the Song of Songs teaches us love for heavenly things. (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, 67).

2. A Pessimistic View of the Endless Cycle of Life and Nature: The First Reading is taken from the prologue to Qoheleth’s book, which announces that man’s work and labors are in vain. The Preacher is meditating on the cycle of life and the cycle of nature. Generations of men come and go, the sun rises and sets, the wind comes and goes, and the rivers rush to the sea yet are continuously filled only to rush back again. Everything seems only to return to where it started. The Preacher also contemplates human history and sees it repeating itself: what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun (1:9). Finally, the Preacher wonders who will remember what was done in the past and concludes that not even things to come will be remembered.

3. The Culmination of History in Jesus Christ: The answer to this pessimistic view of life, of the world, and of history is found in Jesus Christ and his revelation. Nature is indeed cyclical, but human history is not. It is linear and culminates in Jesus Christ. Everything leads up to the Incarnation, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. And, after this event, everything is different. The Kingdom of God is inaugurated and awaits its definitive establishment at the end of time. Jesus Christ gives us reason to hope. He has opened up for us the way to salvation. We can follow his path and enter into communion with him. We do not seek Christ like Herod. Herod was perplexed by Jesus’ mighty deeds and was curious. He sought to see him only to see a miraculous sign. The people also begin to wonder: Who is Jesus? Is he another prophet like Elijah or John? Who is he?

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the culmination of all human history. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Guide me as I walk toward my eternal destiny. You know where I will stumble and where I will be faithful. Help me especially when I am weak and beset by temptation.

Living the Word of God: Each of us is asked today by Jesus: “Who do you say that I am? Am I just another prophet, rabbi, or teacher? Do you believe that I am the Christ?” Hopefully, we respond like Peter “You are the Christ of God” and like Thomas “My Lord and my God.” Not only is all history centered on Christ, but our individual and family lives should also be centered on Christ. How can I center my life on Christ concretely today?