Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 22, 2022 - Thursday in the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
[Eccl/Qoh 1:2-11 and Luke 9:7-9]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 stays forever. [Ecclesiastes]
The words of Ecclesiastes seem to project a profound pessimism! Those who are inclined toward a belief in "predestination" will find those words supportive. They will point to the beautiful words a bit later (in tomorrow's first scripture) from chapter three: "There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every thing under the heavens." The song, "Turn, turn, turn," made this passage famous even if many did not know it came from the bible!
Christianity rejects the idea that God has decided everything in advance and there are no human decisions that can reverse what God has decided. This idea is contrary to the Christian belief that human beings have free will. Every once in awhile I hear the expression, "God has a plan for me....." and a person who believes this will admit to free will and a fear of acting contrary to "God's plan." But, if there is such a plan, it clearly includes free will and humans act against their own self-interest all the time. The "plan of salvation" came about because humans made a mess of things. It was and is being carried out through the teachings and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. But this is not a robotic thing as the evil in the world shows!
If we take Ecclesiastes too literally, the whole notion of hope is emptied of its meaning. Each of us is gifted in a way to benefit the community. We each make a contribution according to our circumstances and means. God's providence is there to support but not to decide in advance what we are going to do. AMEN