There is nothing new under the sun

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading one of those Bible passages that we all know…But do we “think about it”?….Clearly we hear the words….But do we somehow “think” they do not apply to us? - We are “that special”?…In the reading from Ecclesiastes, we are presented with a litany of examples that should open our eyes to the fact that “we are not all that” as we commonly say in New Jersey where I am from - meaning - Life comes and goes - And it goes by fast!….That the only thing that lasts is God and the Eternal Truth, which can not be changed…But “Boy-Oh-Boy” does mankind try to ignore this reality and dare I say even alter it….Over the decades I have taught the Catholic faith and one of the examples I have used to compare the Truth contained in the Catholic Church to is the laws of gravity…..A person can deny that gravity exists all day long…We are free - Right?….But then that same person “jumps of their roof” and “hits the cement sidewalk”…..Even then they can deny gravity exists- But their body in the mean time is mangled from the fall…..The Eternal Laws of God, which are written on the human heart apply to us whether we acknowledge them or not….The same goes for God Himself - You can rationalize God away all you want - That does not change reality - And God is reality……This is one of the fatal flaws of mankind - Arguably, the biggest mistake ever made!….And the same mistake is repeated generation after generation - Look around - Look right out your front door - Its happening in real time!….I have seen the impact of this “denial” of reality in close friends and family - As I am sure YOU have…As time goes on - As it always does - Their lives unravel…..Most times people have to come to “end of themselves” to accept the fact that God is real and that “the rules” of life apply to them - Like them or not……When we finally come "to end of ourself" - Its there that God waits for us and life begins….Its in that space that God says - “Now we can begin”

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. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. All speech is labored; there is nothing one can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear satisfied with hearing. What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!” has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them.

Years ago I attended a Holy Hour at a Church in mid-town Manhattan on a Sunday evening…The Parish of Saint Vincent Ferrer is located in one of the wealthiest parts of Manhattan….Before the Holy Hour, I decided to grab a coffee around the corner…When I walked into the coffee shop, a bunch of old man, they looked like they lived in the neighborhood were there drinking coffee together…I thought to myself - Who are these men? - They must be WEALTHY to live around here!!!!…But if you looked at them, they simply looked like old men who lived anywhere in America - These men just happened to be uber-rich….The thought came to my mind when I saw them, which we are reminded today in the first reading from Mass……”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”…Clearly these men were accomplished people - They ran companies - They sat in executive board rooms - They traveled the world!……One can assume that because they live where they do - But at this point in their life - NO ONE CARES!….They are simply old men drinking coffee at a local coffee shop….This example is worth noting and we are reminded today in the first reading from Mass of the reality of our own mortality…Do we prioritize the eternal?…or…Do we chase after “straw” that burns away quickly and if forgotten?….Have you ever met an eighty year old man who showed you a picture of his house?….Usually eighty year old men, if they are fortunate enough to still be alive and healthy show you pictures of their grandchildren…Do we keep this reality in mind? - As we chase after “straw”?……God is REAL and living your life through the lens of Catholic teaching is not only the best way to live - Its the only way to live….How can I say that? - “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you”…….The eternal and unchangeable teachings of the Catholic Church are time tested and proven to “bear fruit” that will last…We can ignore that all we want - Self rationalize it away all day…Delude ourselves and distract ourself with all forms of nonsense until the sun goes down!….But reality is reality……”Nothing is new under the sun”……We are told by Jesus that if we build our life on a solid foundation - It will stand firm - The winds of time will blow and storms will come and go - But our life will stand strong….There is no stronger foundation to build a life upon then the teachings of the Catholic Church….That is reality!….Because God is reality…There is nothing new under the sun…..JMJ

“You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.”For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night”