Article: Proper 13 August 1, 2004.(Preaching Helps)

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23

Psalm 49:1-11

Colossians 3:1-11

Luke 12-13-21

"Vanity of vanities! All is vanity" (Eccl 1:2). The narrator, Qoheleth, is venting resentments over the fragility of a life's accomplishments. The word habel, translated as "vanity," may mislead us, because in our culture it tends to suggest self-reflection (ego, mirror fixation) when the needed word should rather point to the breathy or transitory nature of life. In other words, habel needs to say that our toil under the sun is insubstantial and therefore worthless in the scope of eons. Whatever we do just gets left to those who come after us. They might ...

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