Jesus rebuked boasters; he told teachers not to walk around with luxurious outfits, and he warned people to pray, fast, and give alms so no one notices. But the vain live to be seen. Christians who boast and live in appearances strut about like peacocks. What about your life with the Lord? How do you pray, do works of mercy? The vain build on sand and fall; we must build on rock, on truth.
Christians who live for appearances are like soap bubbles, beautiful but fleeting. Do I boast or do good, seek God, and pray? Vanity deceives itself: the vain start by pretending but come to believe themselves; it happened to Herod who asked about John. Vanity robs you of peace; it's like putting on too much makeup and being afraid of rain. Only truth gives peace; Jesus is the only rock to build on. The devil tempted Jesus with vanity on a platter: “Throw yourself down and everyone will believe in you.”
The Egyptian Fathers said we must battle vanity all our life because it always comes to take the truth away; it’s like an onion you peel all your life, but the odor stays on your hand. May God give us the grace to be true to the Gospel, not vain.
Eccl 1:2-11 All things are vanity! What profit is labor? Nothing is new under the sun.
Ps 90:3-6, 12-14, 17bc "In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge." 1000 years to you are as yesterday. Teach us to number our days. Have pity! Fill us with your kindness. Prosper the work of our hands!
Lk 9:7-9 Herod was perplexed because people were saying, “John has been raised,” “Elijah has appeared,” and “A prophet has arisen.” But he said, “John I beheaded. Whom are these things about?” He kept trying to see him.
Reflect
Creighton: We'll wither and die, but we can still pray that the Lord prosper the work of our hands. It we number our days in terms of God’s plan, we'll make wiser choices.
Passionist: Today we join our Jewish brethren in celebrating Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, believed the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. / The disciples' success is from their personal experience with Jesus; Herod wonders who this Jesus is. Many are perplexed like him today; may our lives proclaim Jesus to them.
DailyScripture.net: Whom do you most admire and want to be like? God's truth can't be suppressed, though Herod tried. Does God's word take priority in my life?
Look
The Egyptian Fathers said we must battle vanity all our life because it always comes to take the truth away; it’s like an onion you peel all your life, but the odor stays on your hand. May God give us the grace to be true to the Gospel, not vain.
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