Lectionary # 452. Scripture reflection for Sept.25, Thursday, 2008

Scripture: Thursday of 25th week. Ecclesiastes 1:2-11. Psalm
90:3-4.5-6.12-13.14.17. Luke 9:7-9. Lectionary #452:

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of
heart." (Psalm 90:12). Reflecting upon our first reading, the famous line
comes immediately to our minds..."Vanity of vanity and all is vanity." To
understand a more positive approach the verse from our Psalm for today
gives us the key toward wisdom. The result would be that we would follow
God's will in a worthy way and avoid wasting the opportunities of doing
this with a joyful heart. "Each tomorrow should find us farther than today
in loving God and cherishing God's wisdom plans for us. Moses has already
exhorted us to have wisdom of the heart in Deuteronomy 32:29.
The Hebrew word for the book of Ecclesiastes is "Qohelet" that is the
one who speaks in the assembly gathered for prayer or study. This sage
develops some very pessimistic philosophical thoughts and needs to be
prayed over through the Psalm given for our response. God's wisdom
surpasses human wisdom and is mind boggling in giving us the positive
outlook that we need to cope with all of our daily problems. The end
result seen within the bigger picture is always peace, joy, and love. While
we take some time to ponder over the Psalm in its entirety we come to
realize our limitations as humans and we reach out with our hearts and
minds for "wisdom of the heart." We do not lose hope for we are searching
and open to God's guidance which we obtain through quiet prayerful
reflection. The Psalm is a good one for a birthday for those who are more
advanced in age!
Jesus likens the villain of today's reading, Herod Antipas, to a sly
fox. He carefully avoids him during his active ministry. Antipas is the
tetrarch for Galilee and Perea. It was this Herod who had imprisoned John
the Baptist then had him beheaded because of an oath he had made at a party
for his leading men. Salome had danced before them and pleased them with
her senuous dance. It was the Herodias, the mother of Salome, who then
demanded the head of John the Baptist. Herod gave in to her rrequest as a
follow up on the oath and promise made to the dancer. Having learned about
Jesus he was curious to see him hoping for some magical miracle. Rumors
among the common people kept floating back to Herod that John the Baptist
was alive and it is Jesus or that Elijah has returned and the Messianic
era is near. Such rumors are always flying around in tabloids today and
other forms of the media.
What do we learn from this episode? That Herod was not truly wise.
He made a stupid decision in having made an oath that took the life of John
the Baptist. Nor is his curiosity about seeing Jesus perform a miracle very
wise.
In summing up the three readings we see Ecclesiates philosophizing
about human experience, a Psalm that helps us to pray for God's wisdom our
limitations and finally Luke foreshadowing Jesus' future. We pray again,
"Lord, teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of
heart." Amen.