Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 / Luke 9:7-9
In its own unique way, nature has a way of expressing the truths of life.
From the rising of the sun to its setting, from the way the winds blow, the way the waters flow, all these have something to say about life and what it means.
Yet, way too often, we pass them by and we don't think too much about it.
Yet the 1st reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth) brings us back to the ways of nature and the lessons that we can learn from them.
But the important lesson that the author wants us to learn from the ways of nature is that life is like a circle, it goes round and round.
And we too can end up going round and round and toil and toil and yet gain nothing if we don't learn anything.
Yes, no one can say that their eyes have not had enough of seeing, and their ears have not had enough of hearing.
Indeed we see a lot and we hear a lot, but how much do we comprehend and how much do we understand?
In the gospel, Herod also wanted to see Jesus but when he eventually got to see Jesus, he did not comprehend anything nor understood anything more.
Yes, we see and hear a lot and we have many encounters and experiences.
Yet, it is only when we bring these to prayer that we can comprehend and understand what God is telling us. Otherwise it is all just vanity of vanities.