Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 

"There is nothing new under the sun"

My current title at the parish is Parochial Vicar.  Pondering on the meaning of the word Parochial and looking it up in the dictionary, I discovered that the word "Parochial" has two meanings.  One, it is church related.  Two, it is narrow-minded.  Now, I could introduce myself as a parochial vicar or a narrow minded priest :)

The passage from the book of Ecclesiastes tries to draw us out of our narrow mindedness and helps us to see the bigger picture.

It is not uncommon to hear a passage from Ecclesiastes at funerals.  "There is a time for everything, a time to be born and a time to die, a time for war and a time for peace, a time to plant and a time to uproot.  

When we say farewell to our loved ones, we may ponder: "Why does God take some of us home early and leave the rest of us behind?"

The book of Ecclesiastes provides not just simple answers, but deep insights into the way that nature operates, and God's way of ordering things. 

It broadens our perspectives and makes us do an inventory of our personal life.  What is the context in which I'm operating? 

If each of us were to ask what sort of context of mode in which we were operating from, we could all answer it differently. 

Some of us may say it's about prayer, or my life is about the church, or if im not retired, then my life is about work, making a living and providing for the family.  For some people, the context is to go after the newest thing or gadgets.  

For instance, I have to have the latest iPhone, or Samsung, or I have to watch the newest movies or read the newest book, or buy the newest clothing or the newest car.  

This passage tries to give us a broader context and scope in life.  It takes us away from our narrow-mindedness and attempts to make us look at the bigger picture.  There's really nothing new when we see things in the bigger picture.  

"There's nothing new under the sun."

It also helps us to cope with the stresses of our daily life.  We may ask: why me, or why does this happen to me?  Why do these bad things happen to good people.  If we look at it from the broader perspective, it helps us to calm our senses, so that we don't be carried away by extreme life events.  It may have happened to someone else before.  The word of God carries us to a place of depth and meaning. 

Certainly, the passage is not anti-discovery or against doing things differently, or searching for new solutions.  Rather, the passage can have a calming effect on the individual that find it difficult to cope with the extremes of daily living.   

One thing that is now new under the sun is the search for belonging.  Even at the very beginning of the human race, they wanted to belong.  They long to belong.

People search for others, and want to belong within a family or community. 

In this community, we belong to one another.  We care for one another.  We love one another.  And it's because we belong to Christ Jesus.  Jesus said: "all will come to know that you are my disciples because of your love for one another."

We belong to one another, and we also belong to God. 

It reminds me of the story Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.  I like the movie with Liam Neeson as Jean Valjean, and not the latest one with the singing.

Jean Valjean was on route to another location, and he was in dire need, so he stop at the Bishop's house where he found food and shelter.  

But in the middle of the night, he stole the Bishop's silverware and took off.

In the morning, he was caught and returned to the Bishop's residence.  When asked if Jean Valjean had stolen the silverware, the Bishop replied that it was a gift. 

The bishop also said: "how come you didn't take the candlesticks, they are more expensive.  Why didn't you take them?"

Bewildered and confused by the compassion displayed the Bishop, Jean Valjean asked the Bishop when they were alone: "Why are you doing this?"

The Bishop responded with grace-filled and divine inspiration: Jean Valjean, my brother.  You don't belong to evil, but you belong to God.  With this silver, I purchased your soul.  I've ransomed you from fear and hatred.  And now, I give you back to God.  Do you promise to become a new man?"

Jean Valjean muttered under his breath: "I promise."  That was the turning point for Jean Valjean. 

Every time we are at Mass, we are reminded that the Lord Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  He paid the price with his own life. Why?  Because we belong to God.

We belong to one another and we belong to God.  Amen.