Eccl 1:2-11

Luke 9:7-9


Vanity of vanities...all things are vanity! Apart from God all is vanity and the ends of all worldly goods are empty. It means all that we consider as gain is loss since vain glory and the earthly desires that we seek is all vanity. ‘what do you seek?’ Ask yourself today too, ‘what do I seek in life?’ As short and simple as it seems, this is not an easy question to answer because as human beings we have fleeting needs and wants. 



This also makes us change our choices and preferences from time to time according to mutating circumstances of time and space. So, what I sought last year or yesterday might not be the same thing I am seeking this year here and now. What I sought to have at the beginning of the year might not be the same now. However, what is constant is that all we seek in life is always in attempt to finding the reason and purpose of life. For us humans, we constantly seek happiness and peace, and this purpose is only found wherein lies our origin, that is, God. We are created in His own image and likeness to know Him, to love Him and serve Him, and be happy with Him forever. So, God is our natural environment (dwelling place), and we were created to live in His presence and be united with Him forever in order to realise the purpose of our being. Therefore, just as a fish taken out of water cannot survive, so too the human person outside of God cannot survive.




In today's Gospel (Lk 9:7-9) we see that Herod has become aware of the presence of Christ in his jurisdiction. 

Herod was eager to see Jesus and with his heart troubled, the questioning already anticipate his encounter with Jesus during the Lord's passion. However, his encounter was not for interior conversion but 

barely mere human investigation but went in history as those who condemned the Messiah. In other word, he was seeking Jesus for the wrong reason. 



The accomplishment of any leader in public positions is linked to personal encounters he has with God. A leader who cannot find time to listen to God cannot represent God adequately in the public. You cannot speak for God if you do not welcome Him into your heart. And “the ultimate test of your greatness is how you treat every human being”-John Paul II. 




Herod has also heard the people speaking about Jesus and  it shows us that despite his many signs,  miracles and his preaching, the people still do not see Jesus as the Messiah.They still think He is John the Baptist or one of the ancient prophets come back to life. We too must ask ourselves who Christ is for us. Is He simply a saintly man, someone who preached about love and moral living or is He really our Lord and Saviour? 



May God increase our zeal to do His will and help us to grow in the awareness of His love & truth. Amen. 

Comments

  1. TonyUkaegbuSeptember 22, 2022 at 8:25 AM

    Amen 🙏
    Good morning padre.
    Thanks for the words
    Do have a friutful day

    ReplyDelete

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