Nov 19 | Resistance Lectionary Part 21: Turn, turn, turn

Today’s Citation: Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, 3:1-8

The Book of Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth in Hebrew) is one we don’t normally get to hear from in the course of the regular lectionary years, although there is definitely a generation who cannot hear the latter set of verses without also hearing the musical setting penned by the Byrds in 1965. This book, which is otherwise relatively unknown among the general population, had a profound impact on Western literature, with its praises being sung by the American novelist Thomas Wolfe as “the greatest single piece of writing” he had ever known.

Ecclesiastes is a grouchy yet refreshingly honest text in which the constant refrain is “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.” Far from encouraging the believer to deny herself in order to secure a place in heaven, the teacher claims that satisfaction and joy is to be found in the everyday triumphs and struggles of life. God gives us the gift of happiness today, and while happiness will never be constant and unchanging in this life, that is part of the cycle of life as we have received it.

Not a bad message in a world that has been almost constantly afire with end-times prophecy and obsession with what will come after. Christianity is a particularly egregious offender, always concerned with the return of Christ and the smug self-righteous certainty of those who are convinced they will be carried up like poor Lazarus rather than left behind like rich Dives.

There is another rather profound message in this particular passage, one which assures us that all things occur in their own time. Our culture is quite preoccupied with stability and stasis, claiming that happiness, wealth, personal convictions, and traditions must be held onto by any means necessary in an ever-changing world. To allow oneself to change one’s mind, to choose less for one’s own health, and to throw out that which is no longer life-giving is so often seen as “throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” or “flip-flopping.” Ecclesiastes might not go so far as to say, “Adapt or die,” but does remind us that we don’t need to invite change, but should prepare for its arrival. This message seems particularly timely in an era where we are called to decide how we are going to respond to fascists, the violent, and the hateful.

Is there truly a time to kill? Literally, who knows? But figuratively, we do know that there are times of reaping and culling in our lives, and that only when we manage to pick up our scythes and plowshares will we be able to encourage new growth.

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