Life Rolls On

As I celebrate a milestone birthday today, it is also a time to reflect on my past and what is to come in the future.

Today’s reading from Ecclesiastes is a famous one, beginning:

“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 forever stays.

The sun rises and the sun goes down.

Then it presses on to the place where it rises.”

One Day, and Then Another

Basically, it says that life rolls on, one day after another.

Young people in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s are striving to make their mark in the world, either by pursuing their education, or by starting families and working hard to provide for them. It’s constant work, trying to make ends meet, and juggling all the pressures of work and family life.

As one gets older, such as me, we stop to reconsider our actions, and put things into better perspective. For my husband and I, our goal now is to give back to society as a way of thanking God for all that He has done for us. We do not have to work long hours every day to prove anything to ourselves or to our superiors. Rather than wait to bequeath to worthy organizations upon our demise, we are enjoying the fulfillment of seeing our charity come to fruition through various projects.

One cannot help but notice how celebrities are constantly vying to be in the public eye, either through their actions/movies/songs or even their posts on social media. The same goes for public servants in politics. They are looking for validation or instant gratification to feel good about themselves. On the other hand, it is a joy to see large families, especially in church, with several kids in tow, how they go about family life with a joy that cannot be found elsewhere or purchased. Theirs is a joy that comes from a close relationship with God.

Missing

Those craving attention in the spotlight, seem to be missing this closeness with God. They find their solace in the number of followers they have on social media, the amount of money they make or possess. When will they be satisfied, I wonder?

As Ecclesiastes continues, “The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.”

Our consolation, as followers of Christ, comes from the Responsorial Psalm, “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.”

Sometimes I think God must be so disappointed and upset with us with the way the world is going; enshrining and encouraging abortion, pushing the LGBTQ agenda, promoting transgenderism, etc. With our fallen nature, we are no better than our forefathers who turned against God, and complained loudly even as He led them out of slavery!

But then I remember the 55,000 faithful followers of Christ who showed up at the National Eucharistic Congress a couple of months ago, and smile to myself, knowing that God is in charge and if we submit to His will, everything will be ok.

[Readings: ECCL 1:2-11; LK 9:7-9]