Lectionary: 452
Reading 1
eccl 1:2-11
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
What profit has man from all the labor
which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes,
but the world forever stays.
The sun rises and the sun goes down;
then it presses on to the place where it rises.
Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,
the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.
All rivers go to the sea,
yet never does the sea become full.
To the place where they go,
the rivers keep on going.
All speech is labored;
there is nothing one can say.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.
What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”
has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
There is no remembrance of the men of old;
nor of those to come will there be any remembrance
among those who come after them.
Responsorial Psalm
ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17bc
R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Gospel
lk 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.
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: POST-BAPTISMAL DEPRESSION?
"The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear filled with hearing." –Ecclesiastes 1:8
Few people would dispute the fact that the book of Ecclesiastes is the most depressing book of the Bible. It begins: "Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!" (Eccl 1:2) It ends: "Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!" (Eccl 12:8) Ecclesiastes depicts the utter emptiness and hopelessness of life without Christ. However, we who are baptized into Christ have been "delivered from the futile way of life" (1 Pt 1:18) to live the truly new (see 2 Cor 5:17) and absolutely abundant life (Jn 10:10).
If this is true, why are we Christians sometimes as discouraged as anyone else? There are several explanations for post-Christ, post-baptismal depression. Nevertheless, no matter what the circumstances, to change from vanity to fullness we must renew our Baptisms and "stir into flame the gift of God" (2 Tm 1:6).
Right now, renew your baptismal promises by rejecting Satan, all his works, and all his empty promises. Express your total faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Bless yourself with the holy water which reminds us of our Baptism. Baptized into Jesus, our lives are not vain; rather, they are lives of "justice, peace, and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit" (Rm 14:17).
PRAYER: Father, may I renew my Baptism daily, especially on the anniversary of my Baptism. When I get tired for You, may I never get tired of You.
PROMISE: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart." –Ps 90:12
PRAISE: Instead of borrowing to start his business, Jack gave his small savings away to the missions.
Be an inspiration, kindly Share.
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