WOO! WOW!
The title of my homily for this 25 Saturday in Ordinary Time is, “Woo! Wow!”
That’s what I found myself muttering last night after I read today’s first reading from the book of Ecclesiastes or Qoheleth. [Cf. Ecclesiastes 11:9 to 12:8]
It’s a fascinating reading and I found myself going to the several biblical commentaries that I use for reference. Listen to the introduction to this book from The Anchor Bible, “Ecclesiastes is the strangest book in the Bible, or at any rate the book whose presence in the sacred canons of Judaism and of Christianity is most inexplicable.” (1)
The Collegeville Bible Commentary in its introduction to this book puts it this way: "The Book of Ecclesiastes is the most damnable book in the Bible and yet the most satisfying for those who have learned to live comfortably with doubt. That it is damnable seems clear; it has been denounced many times as cynical and provides great comfort for those who are willing to face life honestly is also a fact." (2)
In other words, “Why is this book in the Bible - a book that says God can’t be known by reason?”
In other words, “Woo! Wow! Why in the world did they put this book in the Bible? And the commentaries give evidence that this question was asked – because it’s so different from all the other books in the Jewish Bible. (3)
The only answer I could come up with is that it answers a need for some people – those who have doubts, those who are reflective, those who are skeptical, and those who are pessimistic.
After all, there are dark days. Sometimes God seems to have disappeared. And things do break down – including our bodies.
TO YOUNG PEOPLE
In today’s reading – from near the end of his book – we notice that he’s talking to young men.
I suggest you read the whole book – or at least today’s first reading – slowly and quietly and off to the side. Picture his images.
He’s telling the young to enjoy your youth – it’s not going to last.
He tells them to notice the sun – it goes down. Notice the rain and the clouds. Things are not always bright sunshine. Notice the old man who is bent over. Notice the mill. There’s not much happening there. The grinders are idle. Look in the windows and see how little is happening inside.The door is shut. The birds are silent. One day you’ll fear heights. People die. Notice the mourners walking in the street. He says that “the caper berry is without effect.” I looked up what that reference to the caper berry – losing it’s effect – meant. Surprise it was the Viagra of the day. (4) He continues. The silver cord that holds up an ornamental light is broken. The water pitcher at the well is shattered. The rope for the pulley at the well breaks and falls into the well. You can hear it going “Caplunk!”
Woo! Wow!
He’s telling the young men of his day that time is ticking. Death will turn us into dust and our life breath will return to God.
Woo! Wow!
Haven’t any of us over 70 had streams of thoughts like this when we’re watching young people playing sports and we’re in the stands or the sidelines? Or we’re at a red light on Main Street or at the bottom of Main Street and we see a dozen young people pass in front of our car – bouncing and laughing?
Woo! Wow!
The only answer I could come up with is that it answers a need for some people – those who have doubts, those who are reflective, those who are skeptical, and those who are pessimistic.
After all, there are dark days. Sometimes God seems to have disappeared. And things do break down – including our bodies.
TO YOUNG PEOPLE
In today’s reading – from near the end of his book – we notice that he’s talking to young men.
I suggest you read the whole book – or at least today’s first reading – slowly and quietly and off to the side. Picture his images.
He’s telling the young to enjoy your youth – it’s not going to last.
He tells them to notice the sun – it goes down. Notice the rain and the clouds. Things are not always bright sunshine. Notice the old man who is bent over. Notice the mill. There’s not much happening there. The grinders are idle. Look in the windows and see how little is happening inside.The door is shut. The birds are silent. One day you’ll fear heights. People die. Notice the mourners walking in the street. He says that “the caper berry is without effect.” I looked up what that reference to the caper berry – losing it’s effect – meant. Surprise it was the Viagra of the day. (4) He continues. The silver cord that holds up an ornamental light is broken. The water pitcher at the well is shattered. The rope for the pulley at the well breaks and falls into the well. You can hear it going “Caplunk!”
Woo! Wow!
He’s telling the young men of his day that time is ticking. Death will turn us into dust and our life breath will return to God.
Woo! Wow!
Haven’t any of us over 70 had streams of thoughts like this when we’re watching young people playing sports and we’re in the stands or the sidelines? Or we’re at a red light on Main Street or at the bottom of Main Street and we see a dozen young people pass in front of our car – bouncing and laughing?
Woo! Wow!
It’s a universal thought – when old – to notice the young moving in ways we can longer move. Jesus tells his disciples in today’s gospel the day is going to come when I’m going to be handed over to others. However, they don’t pay attention to what he’s saying. I assume they are in the thrill of the moment – young men following and walking with and bouncing with this famous preacher Jesus and they don’t want to look at the future – just be in the immediate.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Today’s first reading is geared for young men. Let me close with a poem by John Crowe Ransom [1888-1974] called “Blue Girls” – which could be found in this same book called, “Ecclesiastes” - because it has a similar tone or flavor . It’s one of my favorite poems – especially because I can picture it – and it has a “Woo! Wow!” to it.
BLUE GIRLS
Twirling your blue skirts, traveling the sward (5)
Under the towers of your seminary, (6)
Go listen to your teachers old and contrary
Without believing a word.
Tie the white filets then about your lustrous hair
And think on more of what will come to pass
Than bluebirds that go walking on the grass
And chattering on the air.
Practice your beauty, blue girls before it fail;
And I will cry with loud lips and publish
Beauty which all our power shall never establish,
It is so frail.
For I could tell you a story which is true:
I know a lady with a terrible tongue,
Blear eyes fallen from blue,
All her perfections tarnished – and yet it is not long
Since she was lovelier than any of you.
(1) Proverbs Ecclesiastes, The Anchor Bible, translated with an introduction and notes by R. B. Y. Scott, page 191.
(2) Proverbs Ecclesiastes, The Anchor Bible, translated with an introduction and notes by R. B. Y. Scott, pages 191-208.
Blear eyes fallen from blue,
All her perfections tarnished – and yet it is not long
Since she was lovelier than any of you.
(1) Proverbs Ecclesiastes, The Anchor Bible, translated with an introduction and notes by R. B. Y. Scott, page 191.
(2) Proverbs Ecclesiastes, The Anchor Bible, translated with an introduction and notes by R. B. Y. Scott, pages 191-208.
(3) The Collegeville Bible Commentary, The Book of Ecclesiastes, p. 64 in # 24, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther – Commentary by James A. Fischer, C.M. Confer also The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, under Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth) by Addison G. Wright, S.S. pp. 489-491
(4) Proverbs Ecclesiastes, The Anchor Bible, translated with an introduction and notes by R. B. Y. Scott, note 5, page. 255.
(4) Proverbs Ecclesiastes, The Anchor Bible, translated with an introduction and notes by R. B. Y. Scott, note 5, page. 255.
(5) "sward" - a grassy patch
(6) "seminary" - their school
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