The
preacher: Vanity of vanities. Vanity of
vanities. All is vanity!
What does the
word “vanity” mean? It is repeated in 2 lines. It is clear that the one called
the Preacher finds it important. The word means: something “worthless,
nonsense, without real meaning, no value!
Something that
is called a “vanity” is something that has no lasting value. It passes
quickly It is truly of no use. The man
who speaks those words: a wise man. He has gained his wisdom through experience
by going through different kinds of situations. He has tried this and that and
he finds satisfaction in nothing. He himself says it in another part of his
book. (2, 1-11)
“I thought to
myself very well. I will try pleasure and see what enjoyment has to offer. And
there it was :vanity again . This
laughter I reflected is a madness,this pleasure no use at all. I resolved to
have my body cheered with wine, I decided to hand my body over to drinking wine
worked on a grand scale, I built myself pleasure. I bought slaves, male and
female herds and flocks. I too had more than anyone in Jerusalem before
me. I amassed silver and gold. I grew greater than anyone
before me. I refused my eyes nothing they desired, refused my heart no
pleasure, a heart that found all my work
a pleasure. I then reflected on all that my hands achieved ,what vanity it all
is, and what chasing of the wind! There is nothing to be gained under the
sun.
Did you hear
those things that this wise man had tried: pleasure, drinking, houses, slaves,
money, power and at the end he says all this comes to nothing . It is all
worthless- it does not make someone truly happy.
To explain what
those things are, he uses a very clear
comparison like chasing after the wind. Can you picture yourself running
after the wind? In which direction will you
catch it? We all know it is impossible,
and it is for nothing . The word vanity also means this: a foolish
running after something useless.
In the gospel,
we get from Jesus a similar message. A man came to Jesus because there is a
conflict between him and his brother over
their inheritance. He wants Jesus
to tell his brother to give him the share that is his due. Jesus uses this
occasion to teach, not only to that man
but for all of us too. He says: “Watch
and be on guard against greed _of any kind for a man’s life is not made secure
by what he owns . When he has more than what
he needs.
Take care to
guard against all greed for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist
of material possessions.
Jesus stresses
His teaching by telling a story. A story that makes what He wants to say fully
understood by his listeners. It is the
story of a man who had such a rich harvest that all his stores/warehouses are
full, and he still has plenty to put aside. So he decides to destroy the old
warehouse and built a bigger one
and enjoy life. Listen to him.
I say to my
soul (myself)
You have plenty
of good things laid by for many years to come take things easy, eat, drink and
have a good time!
But God said,
“Fool, this very night, this night, and your life will be demanded of you, and
the things you have possessed to whom
will they belong? ”
And Jesus
summarizes the story by telling us : “So it is when a man store up treasures
for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.”(Lk.12:20-21)