A TIME FOR EVERYTHING UNDER HEAVEN

PRAYER MOMENT                      

Friday 26 September 2014, SS Cosmas and Damian.

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING UNDER HEAVEN

Pause. Be still in God’s presence.

Reading: “There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven” (Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth) 3:1-11)

Reflection. This is a famous passage often used in literature and journalism; ‘a time for planting and a time for uprooting … a time for throwing stones away and a time for gathering them up … a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking … a time for war and time for peace.’ It is a description of human emotions and activities and the wisdom comes in knowing when to ‘throw stones away’ and when to ‘gather them up.’ There is a time for action and a time for keeping quiet. So courage and restraint are both needed. But the weariness of the writer comes out as his underlying question is, ‘what is it all about?’ ‘Why do we have to follow these wearisome alternatives? We have an insight into a changing Jewish world, unsatisfied with answers its heritage seemed to give and longing for something more. For the Christian that ‘something more’ was about to be revealed.

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Prayer. Lord Jesus, help us not to grow weary with the ups and downs of life but to keep our eyes fastened on your drawing us to yourself which is the beginning and end of all.  Amen.  

David Harold-Barry SJ