The first reading for today is from Ecclesiates (Qoheleth; the Hebrew title) is a book in the Old Testament classified as Wisdom literature. Wisdom literature in the Bible include the Books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job and Sirach. Each offers a different view of “wisdom.” Such literature tends to be read in “bits and pieces” with a focus on particularly memorable verses. But all wisdom literature is more than a collection of verses. While wisdom literature is a collection, that collection is assembled in a way that offers a coherent message.

The opening chapters of the Book of Proverbs draws attention to wisdom itself and its inherent value rather than exhorting particular wise actions. These chapters personify wisdom as a woman and draw an extended analogy between finding a wife, or founding and maintaining a house(hold), and finding wisdom. The final chapter of the book uses household chores as the analogy and then sums up the whole book in the final verse: “Acclaim her for the work of her hands, and let her deeds praise her at the city gates.” (Proverbs 31:31) Such are the rewards of right living pleasing to God. It is almost as though a tenant of that book is that God rewards the righteous and upright and punishes the wicked. 

Ecclesiastes has a different view. It would say that pursuing all kinds of actions, accomplishments, and accolades is “Vanity of vanities…All things are vanity!” (Ecc 1:2) Why? Because bad things happen to good people and vice versa.  The refrain which begins and ends the book, “Vanity of vanities” (1:1; 12:8), recurs at key points throughout. The Hebrew word, hebel (“vanity”), has the sense of “emptiness, futility, absurdity”: “I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase after wind” (1:14; 2:11, 17, 26; etc.). Everything in human life is subject to change, to qualification, to loss: “What profit have we from all the toil which we toil at under the sun?” (1:3). The answer is in the negative: No absolute profit or gain is possible. Even if some temporary profit or gain is achieved, it will ultimately be canceled out by death, the great leveler (2:14–15; 3:19–20). Wisdom has some advantages over foolishness, but even wisdom’s advantage is only a temporary and qualified one.

Ecclesiastes is not exactly uplifting – at first blush, but it offers an alternative view to the assumption that if you are righteous and faithful that your life will be without problems. Eccleiaster is clear in its message: even the righteous have problems. Yet at the same time the message includes an admonishment to live gratefully for all that God provides to the world, regardless of the specific circumstances of your life.

Below are two videos: a summary of Eccleiastes and another that explains the Disturbing but Surprising Wisdom of Ecclesiastes. Take a moment and explore the depth of this amazing book.