Vanity of vanity, all is vanity

Eccl. 1:2-11, Lk. 9:7-9. As we look at life, it seems pretty much the same: people live and they die. While many only think about themselves, very few are selfless. That is what Qoheleth is talking about in today's first reading: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity...Nothing is new under the sun.” Though, this expression presents a dark summary of life, yet it is a food for thought. Qoheleth examines all kinds of human dealings and found absurdities, only the desire to place everything before God that the absurdities could be unraveled. Wisdom will make us put our confidence in God, for it is futile for us to put our trust in the world and not in God. Our confidence in God will help us to see God in the event around us and stop the constant 'blame game' of our time, when we remember past hurts. Hence, we are invited to nurture noble thoughts, speak edifying words and treat everyone around us with regard, instead of living in past hurts or failures.

It was because Herod refused to hold up to his failure that the news about John the Baptist weighed down his conscience. He was perplexed because of what he had done to the man of God in order to subvert the truth and to have his way. Now he felt imprisoned by his fear and sin of infringing the life of a just man. The chaos and contradictions within, deprived him the joy of life. He looked for Jesus not for any grace of conversion, but to find something to pacify his conscience. If Herod had the courage to seek in Jesus the mercy of God, he would have found his peace and remained a liberated person. Many experience the same difficulty in seeing Jesus as true Son of God who can restore human conscience to its innocence by reconciling us to God. In Jesus all the prophesies are accomplished and the prophetic liberation announced has arrived. Today's Gospel challenges us to assume this prophetic thrust in our Christian life. We cannot afford to close our eyes and remain indifferent any more, since the Gospel in our hand is the key to a free conscience.

May the Lord help us to know Him more clearly, love Him more dearly and follow Him more nearly with our heart free from all fault! Amen!! Stay safe and do have a pleasant day!!!