The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on our life journey and and celebrate the Presence of God in both our joys and sorrows.
.jpg)
The reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes is a poem on Youth and Old Age.
* [11:7–10] The concluding part of the book opens with a final bittersweet homage to life and an enthusiastic encouragement to rejoice in its gifts while they are within grasp.
* [11:10] Fleeting: lit., “vanity.”(Ecclesiastes, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
* [12:1–7] The homage to life of 11:7–10 is deliberately balanced by the sombre yet shimmering radiance of this poem on old age and death. The poem’s enigmatic imagery has often been interpreted allegorically, especially in vv. 3–5. Above all it seeks to evoke an atmosphere as well as an attitude toward death and old age.
* [12:3–5] An allegorical reading of these verses sees references to the human body—“guardians”: the arms; “strong men”: the legs; “women who grind”: the teeth; “those who look”: the eyes; “the doors”: the lips; “daughters of song”: the voice; “the almond tree blooms”: resembling the white hair of old age; “the locust…sluggish”: the stiffness in movement of the aged; “the caper berry”: a stimulant for appetite.
* [12:6] The golden bowl suspended by the silver cord is a symbol of life; the snapping of the cord and the breaking of the bowl, a symbol of death. The pitcher…the pulley: another pair of metaphors for life and its ending.
* [12:7] Death is portrayed in terms of the description of creation in Gn 2:7; the body corrupts in the grave, and the life breath (lit., “spirit”), or gift of life, returns to God who had breathed upon what he had formed. (Ecclesiastes, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 90 praises God’s Eternity and Human Frailty.
* [Psalm 90] A communal lament that describes only in general terms the cause of the community’s distress. After confidently invoking God (Ps 90:1), the Psalm turns to a complaint contrasting God’s eternity with the brevity of human life (Ps 90:2–6) and sees in human suffering the punishment for sin (Ps 90:7–12). The Psalm concludes with a plea for God’s intervention (Ps 90:13–17). (Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus again Foretells His Death. (Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
Jay Carney comments that today’s readings challenge us not to avoid the difficult realities of life, including the shadow of death.
A friend of mine once told me a story about a Benedictine colleague who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My friend stopped by his office to express his condolences. The monk looked up, paused, and replied, “I think about my death every day.” As a Benedictine, he had routinely prayed and meditated on the last things, including today’s Psalm 90 asking God to “teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Let us ponder those words this weekend. (Carney, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The scapegoat foreshadowed Christ's passion,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The mystery of the passion may be seen also in another instance. According to the Mosaic law, two goats were offered. They were not different in any way from one another (Leviticus 16:7-8), but they were alike in size and appearance. Of these, one was called 'the lord,' and the other was called 'sent-away.' When the lot was cast for the one called 'lord,' it was sacrificed. The other one was sent away from the sacrifice, and therefore had the name of 'sent-away.' Who was signified by this? The Word, though he was God, was in our likeness and took the form of us sinners, as far as the nature of the flesh was concerned. The male or female goat was sacrificed for sins. Death was our desert, for we had fallen under the divine curse because of sin. When the Savior of all undertook the responsibility, he transferred to himself what was due to us and laid down his life, that we might be sent away from death and destruction."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 53) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:8 urges us to not be too quick to dismiss Qoheleth’s warnings. He reminds us that life is short and fragile. Such a practice has a long history. Memento Mori, or “remember your death,” was a popular tradition in the medieval Church.
It’s not morbid or unhealthy to think about our eventual passing, especially when we also remember the hope that we have of eternal life. Today, imagine that you have only days to live, and then ask the Spirit to help you see what you might do differently right now. Trust that he will give you the grace to make those changes so that you can live an abundant life now and one day enjoy the riches of heaven!
“Jesus, thank you for giving me a future full of hope!” (Meditation on Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage from Qoheleth urges us to enjoy life while young before we have to deal with a broken body. This is not to advocate boisterous or pleasure seeking living but doing the best we can. Friar Jude notes the difference between the Messiah expected by the disciples and the Love for All expressed by Jesus on the Cross.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister who identifies purity of heart as an essential commitment for the Desert Monastics.
No doubt about it: Total concentration on the one thing necessary—a heart centered on the will and love of God—determines every action of your life. It will carry you through life as much as life carries you—only with more fulfillment. It is a beacon from the desert calling you yet to continue your own pursuit of the presence of God, to concentrate always on the purity of heart that seeks one thing only and always.
Your heart is the real compass of your life. The Desert Monastics knew that over fifteen hundred years ago and you know it yet: Purity of heart is the gift that guides you, leads you, shepherds you from one end of life to the other, always content knowing that you have done what you were born to do. What else could possibly be worth a life? (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the path we are taking in life with gratitude and recognition that our Life in the Spirit best guides our decisions.
References
Carney, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/092824.html
Ecclesiastes, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ecclesiastes/11?9
Ecclesiastes, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ecclesiastes/12
Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?43
Meditation on Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/09/28/1085347/
Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/90?3
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Cultivating a Contemplative Consciousness: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/cultivating-a-contemplative-consciousness-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=sep28
No comments:
Post a Comment