Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 28, 2006 - DOMINICAN MARTYRS OF JAPAN (17th Century)
[Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 and Luke 9:7-9]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......
The Book of Ecclesiastes (or "Qoheleth") seems to be a very cynical and pessimistic book. One commentator characterizes it as the memoir of an old man who has seen a lot and in his old age doesn't expect much any more. He certainly comes across as a curmudgeon! Our modern response might be, "Hey! Lighten up, old man! Have some hope!" We might even quote back to him the most popular words in his memoir, "There is a time and purpose for everything, etc." - even for pessimism! If nothing else, Ecclesiastes can awaken us to the pessimism that occasionally besets us after any terrible hurt. I've heard plenty of it in my pastoral years and probably have indulged in it from time to time. " (Fill in the blank)are no good!" Another example is to respond to someone's happy achievement with, "So what? Nothing new about that!" The modern response to such comments is often, "Who invited him/her?" The Second Letter to Timothy tells us that "all scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching...." Ecclesiastes should be a warning to us just through our reaction to it. If we like it, then why? If we don't, then why? But don't ignore it! It has its "time" too! AMEN
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