Mere Breath?
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23; Psalm 90; Colossians 3:1-5,9-11; Luke 12:13-21
Jesus’ parable brings to my mind a story of a certain businessman who at the peak of his success was diagnosed with cancer. On the other hand, the reading from Qohelet makes me think about the wise king Solomon who left a prosperous and united kingdom to his son, Rehoboam, “a man of little intelligence and great foolishness” (Sirach 47:23; see Qoh 2:21). Is human life really “a chasing after the wind” (Qoh 2:11)?
“Mere breath” is the most famous phrase from the book of Qohelet (Qoh 1:2). The Hebrew word “hevel”, translated as “vanity”, means a vapour that is exhaled in breathing. It can be seen on a cold weather but it disappears immediately. “Hevel” is the opposite of “ruah”, the life-giving breath, the creative Spirit of God (Gen 1:2). For Qohelet, life is fleeting and unpredictable. Wise or fool, rich or poor, just or wicked, all end up in the grave.
The man from Jesus’ parable thinks neither about death nor about God. The great harvest opened for him the door to a life he could finally enjoy: “rest, eat, drink, be merry!” (Lk 12:19). The man is not only self-centred (Lk 12:17-19) but also foolish (Ps 14:1). He had big plans for himself, but he forgot that our life flowers in the morning and withers by evening (Ps 90:6). Wise are those who know how to “number their days” (Ps 90:12).
Is there something beyond death? For Qohelet, death ends everything. But for the Christians in Colossae things were different. “Seek what is above” (Col 3:1). The mystery of Jesus’ resurrection was revealed to them and through the sacrament of baptism they participated in Christ’s victory over death. Death is not the end but a passage to a different kind of existence that has been manifested in Christ’s resurrection and ascension at the right hand of God (Col 3:1-4).
“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (Lk 12:13). Jesus refused to do so, but he himself will share His inheritance with us. “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34). Through faith and baptism, we were qualified “to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light” (Col 1:12). This inheritance, kept for us in heaven, is described as “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4).
The man from the parable had a plan to pull down his old barns and to build larger ones. We did something similar and yet totally different. In baptism, we put off “the old man” and put on “the new man” (Col 3:9-10). “The old man” thinks about earthly inheritance, larger barns, and merriment. “The new man” is being renewed according to the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27; Col 3:10). This baptismal transformation influences our new way of life: all sorts of sins are put to death and a new life of holiness emerges (Col 3:5-14).
“One’s life (zoe)” does not consists in the abundance of possessions (Lk 12:15). The “life” that Jesus talks about belongs to God who wants to share it with us. “In Him was life and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Jesus came so that we could have that life (John 10:10). But, the man from the parable did not have it; he had “soul” (psuche) or a life that embraces thoughts, will, and feelings (Lk 12:20). True life consists in believing that “Christ is our life” (Col 3:4).
Human existence on this planet is “mere breath”, “seventy or eighty years if we are strong” that pass swiftly and we are gone (Ps 90:10). But, for those who believe in Christ, life does not end but changes. “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col 3:3-4).
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23; Psalm 90; Colossians 3:1-5,9-11; Luke 12:13-21
Jesus’ parable brings to my mind a story of a certain businessman who at the peak of his success was diagnosed with cancer. On the other hand, the reading from Qohelet makes me think about the wise king Solomon who left a prosperous and united kingdom to his son, Rehoboam, “a man of little intelligence and great foolishness” (Sirach 47:23; see Qoh 2:21). Is human life really “a chasing after the wind” (Qoh 2:11)?
“Mere breath” is the most famous phrase from the book of Qohelet (Qoh 1:2). The Hebrew word “hevel”, translated as “vanity”, means a vapour that is exhaled in breathing. It can be seen on a cold weather but it disappears immediately. “Hevel” is the opposite of “ruah”, the life-giving breath, the creative Spirit of God (Gen 1:2). For Qohelet, life is fleeting and unpredictable. Wise or fool, rich or poor, just or wicked, all end up in the grave.
The man from Jesus’ parable thinks neither about death nor about God. The great harvest opened for him the door to a life he could finally enjoy: “rest, eat, drink, be merry!” (Lk 12:19). The man is not only self-centred (Lk 12:17-19) but also foolish (Ps 14:1). He had big plans for himself, but he forgot that our life flowers in the morning and withers by evening (Ps 90:6). Wise are those who know how to “number their days” (Ps 90:12).
Is there something beyond death? For Qohelet, death ends everything. But for the Christians in Colossae things were different. “Seek what is above” (Col 3:1). The mystery of Jesus’ resurrection was revealed to them and through the sacrament of baptism they participated in Christ’s victory over death. Death is not the end but a passage to a different kind of existence that has been manifested in Christ’s resurrection and ascension at the right hand of God (Col 3:1-4).
“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (Lk 12:13). Jesus refused to do so, but he himself will share His inheritance with us. “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34). Through faith and baptism, we were qualified “to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light” (Col 1:12). This inheritance, kept for us in heaven, is described as “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4).
The man from the parable had a plan to pull down his old barns and to build larger ones. We did something similar and yet totally different. In baptism, we put off “the old man” and put on “the new man” (Col 3:9-10). “The old man” thinks about earthly inheritance, larger barns, and merriment. “The new man” is being renewed according to the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27; Col 3:10). This baptismal transformation influences our new way of life: all sorts of sins are put to death and a new life of holiness emerges (Col 3:5-14).
“One’s life (zoe)” does not consists in the abundance of possessions (Lk 12:15). The “life” that Jesus talks about belongs to God who wants to share it with us. “In Him was life and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Jesus came so that we could have that life (John 10:10). But, the man from the parable did not have it; he had “soul” (psuche) or a life that embraces thoughts, will, and feelings (Lk 12:20). True life consists in believing that “Christ is our life” (Col 3:4).
Human existence on this planet is “mere breath”, “seventy or eighty years if we are strong” that pass swiftly and we are gone (Ps 90:10). But, for those who believe in Christ, life does not end but changes. “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col 3:3-4).
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible