Replies

I thought this was so beautiful from the Office of Readings from the "Liturgy of the Hours" this morning.

From the book of Ecclesiastes

Thoughts on Old Age

Light is sweet!and it is pleasant for th eyes to see the sun.However many years a man may live, let him,as he enjoys them all, remember that the day s of darkness will be many.All that is to come is vanity.

Rejoice,O young man, while you are young,and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes;Yet understand that as regeards all this God will bring you to judgement.Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence,though the dawn of youth is fleeting.Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,before the eveil days come And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them;Before the sun is darkened, and the light,and the moon,and the stars,while the clouds return after the rain;When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent,And the grinders are idle because they are few,and they who look throught the windows grow blind;When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low;WHen one waits for the chirp of a bird,but all the daughters of song are suppressed;And one fears heights, and perils in the street;When the almond tree blooms,and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect,Beecause man goes to his lasting home,and mourners go about the streets;Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken,And the pitcher is shattered at the spring,and the broken pulley falls into the well,And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,all things are vanity!Besides being wise,Qoheleth taught the people knowledge, and weighted,scrutinized and arranged many proverbs.Qoheleth sought to find pleasing sayings, and to write down true sayings with precision.The sayings of the wise are like qoads;like fixed spikes are the topics given by one collector.As to more than these, my son, beware.Of the making of many books there is no end, and in much study there is weariness for the flesh.The last word,when all is heard:Fear God and keep his commandments,for this is man's all;beceause God will bring to judgement every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good or bad.