Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Both of today’s readings are difficult and discouraging to read. The first reading from Ecclesiastes talks about the sun darkening, the pitcher shattering, the pulley breaking and falling, etc. It’s almost apocalyptic. In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that he will be arrested (which will lead to his crucifixion and death), but they do not understand. What does this all mean? Like the disciples, do we understand what is being said?
When I take a closer look at the first reading, it seems to give the message that youth is short, so enjoy it while you can before you become old. “Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth…the dawn of youth is fleeting,” (Ecclesiastes 11:9a, 10b). This can be challenging to hear especially in our society that values looking young. Nonetheless, the phrase “to be glad” stands out to me. What does it mean to enjoy life? Often our minds go to living a life of luxury—living in mansions, traveling lavishly, etc. However, those things temporarily feed us. They all end eventually or their shiny veneer wears down. Therefore, this passage can encourage us to look at what we fill our lives with. Is it with things that satisfy or things that for a moment give us immediate gratification?
From today’s Gospel, I can imagine that it would be difficult for Jesus’ disciples to hear him talk about what will happen to him. The rabbi that they have been traveling with and learning from will be taken away. Both readings refer to death as something that will happen. However, Christ’s resurrection reveals to us that death is not the end. “To be glad” is not limited to our youth but can be present throughout our whole lives. There is hope in suffering and pain. Let us fill our lives with this hope that God gives us.
—Sr. Emily Sandoval