Today's first reading is from Ecclesiastes 1: 2-11 in which the author reminds us that "All things are vanity!" The author goes on to ask the question: "What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? Why such a question? Because, the author says, [o]ne generation passes and another comes...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."
If you weren't depressed before reading this passage, you might be now! My initial response was: What the heck! I could say to myself: "why do anything!" But wait a minute! I have never been here before so, for me, there are new experiences for me! There are things for me to do and explore! Yes,"the sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises," and it has done so from one generation after another. And now it does so for me to see and praise the Lord. Rivers "go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. to the place where they go, the rivers keep going." And, now, because I have not been here before, I can enjoy the running streams, even fish in them, ride a boat in them, and sail out into the seas into which they flow! Water shows and water sports are now mine to enjoy.
"Nothing is new under the sun" except for those who have not been part of a past generation. For the "now" generation, everything is new when seen and experienced for the first time. What has been, has been. What will be, will be. What is, is!
And, furthermore, the author of this passage, reminds us that "[t]here is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them." The bottom line is that God is the Almighty One, the Immortal One, the All Holy One, in whom each of us lives and moves and has his or her being. To God be the glory!
Amen!
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