C: 18th Sun OrdTime (4 Aug 2019) - THE AFFECTION OF THE PUBLIC (Lk 12:13-21)

Let me offer you a simple test. What if a good friend, with no ulterior motives, is to offer you a wristwatch gratis so you can wear it on a big social celebration, asking you to choose between Seiko and Rolex brands, what would you say: (a) “Seiko,” (b) “Rolex,” or (c) “any of the two”? We would, certainly, be a hypocrite not to choose the Rolex brand, being the more costly and more durable watch. Meanwhile, responding “any of the two” is obviously half-hearted, for deep inside our hearts, we are hoping that our benefactor will give us the fancier one.

Interestingly, the last two choices become realistic answers given a different context. Suppose I change the question to: What if a good friend, with no ulterior motives, is to offer you a wristwatch gratis so you can wear it on your solitary retreat in the woods…? Even if we still long for the Rolex, we may be open this time to select the Seiko, or even respond with “any of the two”. Our basic reasoning may be: “Since I am all alone, it does not matter what brand of watch I wear… or do I actually need one?”. Henceforth, whatever-may-be-more-practical becomes the main criterion, not any more the-one-which-is-more-expensive.

Our situation in this second scenario is the actual realization of King Solomon, the purported author of the Book of Ecclesiastes—modern scholars attribute it instead to a later writer in the Hellenistic times, anachronistic with Solomon who lived some 500 years earlier. Nonetheless, what we surely know about the writer is that he claims to be “the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Eccl 1:2); he must be rich, wise and in a position of power. Yet, despite such public influence, he uttered the famous lines “Vanity of vanities! All is vanities” (v. 2).

The word “vanity” does not actually capture what the sage had in mind. The original Hebrew word used is “hebel” which is defined as a “a warm [transitory] breath, vapor” (cf. HALOT). All things being a “hebel” is concretely explained twelve verses after: “I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.” (v. 14). Essentially, what he really points at is that all the things in this world, the human life included, are just like a passing wind that are transitory and will eventually pass, and even forgotten (cf. v. 11). Indeed, despite everything he has and enjoys, the sage discovered that wealth and honor are realistically passing only from this world. Accordingly, the book of Psalms sums it perfectly: “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow” (Psa 144:4). Thus, a Rolex is practically the same with a Seiko; for both of them will soon vanish into thin air.

In the Bible, we all know that Solomon had a good eye for women, having 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kgs 11:3)—this is only a hyperbole to emphasize his huge appetite for women’s company. By and large, he may not be after carnal pleasure at all; he may simply find satisfaction being surrounded by people who love and adore him. That may be the reason why he even desired princesses from faraway lands including Pharaoh’s daughter (11:1) and even the Queen of Sheba (10:1-12), to whom he gave “every desire that she expressed, as well as what he gave her out of Solomon’s royal bounty” (10:13). Now, despite his knowledge that all of these things were passing like a wind, Solomon was trapped into the dynamics of social relationship and social acceptance. He was forced not to leave wealth behind; he even amassed more until he became the wisest and richest king in his time (cf. 10:23). Indeed, he would need all of these to maintain his high-level of social life and to provide for the caprices of his mistresses. Thus, a Rolex will always be more desirable than a Seiko.

The challenge then for all of us is epitomized in the exhortation of Jesus in our gospel today: “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Lk 12:15). Indeed, at the end of our earthly existence, we will realize that both Seiko and Rolex do not matter, for our true treasure is found in God alone (v. 21).

- Rex Fortes, CM