Sr. Dr. Bincy Thumpanathu CMC
READING
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
REFLECTION
These are the final verses uttered by the author of the book of Ecclesiastes, after having examined his own life journey. Having plunged deeply into the mystery and experiences of life and its many vicissitudes the author concludes that life is wearisome and no more than just a repetition of events; a generation goes, a generation comes, the sun rises, the sun sets, the wind goes round and round, rivers flow into the sea from where they come. (cf. Eccl 1:4-9). Seeing the human toil and the cycles of nature, the author laments that everything in life is vanity, vanity of vanities. Wealth, pleasure, power, work, success, honour…nothing under the sun is eternal.
The use of the Hebrew word hebel, meaning vanity, serves to accentuate the absurdity of human life, marking it as something temporary,worthless, deceptive, and transient. For this reason, one may well consider that this book contains nothing more than a pessimistic assessment of human life. However, this is far from the truth. While pointing to a ridiculous nature of human life, the great truth that the author wishes to convey lies in the acknowledgment that God is ever-present in our lives and we should trust implicitly in God’s providence. When God is excluded, vanity flourishes and, therefore, the invitation is to keep one’s mind fixed on attaining eternal life, and not to become distracted by the passing things of this life. This is not an easy challenge, and one must constantly guard against the increasing number of carefully packaged and tempting offers that appear attractive. The advertising campaigns promoting the latest models, the best ever deals or the must-have items are all designed to convince people that by having them they will find happiness. Sadly, reality soon dawns and they are left once again with the same feeling of emptiness. While encouraging the young people to be happy in their lives, he urges them to always remember God (12:1). He concludes the discourse in 12:13, stating that human beings would do well if they fear God and obey His precepts.
Indeed a true Christian is a man or woman who loyally follows the teachings of the Lord. Fearing God and walking in His ways does not guarantee that our path will be smooth and life rosy. Rather, the knowledge that we are not alone, but are guided by God, is our true treasure and strength. In fact, encountering the living God embellishes our lives, filling our hearts with true joy, and with a profound goodness that endures, one that does not tarnish. So, it is desirable that we should be open to God who, through His commandments, teaches us how to become truly free and how to act responsibly. Let us never forget that living the teachings of the Lord is the route to freedom, keeping us from becoming enslaved by futile passions and sin.
PRAYER
Lord, help us to remain faithful to your commandments, that we may avoid the vain pursuits and deceptions of this world. Grant us a spirit of acceptance and a heart that welcomes you into our lives. May we never be allured by earthly things, but take only the path that you have prepared for us.
CONTEMPLATION
Sit before the Lord with an open heart. Leave behind all the worries of the day. Entrust Lord the chaos in your life, the state of confusion you find yourself in. Slowly come to experience peace in the Lord’s presence, heed His wisdom and respond to His call. Meditate on the Commandments of the Lord as you examine your life to see where you succeed and where you fail to follow them.
ACTION
I will love God’s Commandments with all my heart and shun the pleasures of this world which are but fleeting and worthless.
