“Vanity of vanities, says the
Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” There is need to pause and
reflect on the value of all we are labouring for on Earth. Life on earth is
limited, and so are the works of our hands. The passing of time and the
confinement of space reduce the glamour and beautiful things of this world to
temporal existence, such that they do not last forever. What we admire so much
today becomes old in the near future; what we labour for now is inherited by those
who never worked for it. “What does a man gain by all the toil at which he
toils under the sun?”
But the soul of man is destined for eternal life; it goes beyond every material thing, no matter how beautiful they appear. That is why only God can satisfy the heart of man. ‘Vanity of vanities’ expresses the agony and uselessness man faces when he becomes simply the ‘man of earth.’ When we pursue things of this earth as the main purpose and destination of our lives, we face the regret of a wasted life. The good things of this life should be approached with moderation, such that they warm our hearts and give them boast to fly to God.
Herod the tetrarch was a good example of the vanities of the pleasures of life. Think about the wealth and power he possessed, and the arrogance he exhibited. Herod was a man of pleasure, who would do anything to get what he wanted. In today’s Gospel, we see him running from himself in fear; the vanity of his action caught up with him. This is the kind of fear and regret we shall face if we allow frivolities and vanities of this life to consume us. Therefore, let our soul take refuge in the Lord as we approach every material desire with moderation and discipline; we shall never labour in vain. Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Thursday September 24th,
2020.
Our Lady of Ransom
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
