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Catholic lectionary for 3 August 2025

King James Version (en)

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 1,  verse 2

1 The Preacher showeth that all human courses are vain
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
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1  The title of the book, Ecc 1:1.
The general doctrine, All is vanity, Ecc 1:2-3.
Proved from the shortness of life, and the perpetual changes of all the creatures, Ecc 1:4-7.
From the unsatisfying toil of men, and the return of the same things over again, Ecc 1:8-11.
The vanity of knowledge, Ecc 1:12-18.


1:2 Vanity - Not only vain, but vanity in the abstract, which denotes extreme vanity. Saith - Upon deep consideration and long experience, and by Divine inspiration. This verse contains the general proposition, which he intends particularly to demonstrate in the following book. All - All worldly things. Is vanity - Not in themselves for they are God's creatures and therefore good in their kinds, but in reference to that happiness, which men seek and expect to find in them. So they are unquestionably vain, because they are not what they seem to be, and perform not what they promise, but instead of that are the occasions of innumerable cares, and fears, and sorrows, and mischiefs. Nay, they are not only vanity but vanity of vanities, the vainest vanity, vanity in the highest degree. And this is redoubled, because the thing is certain, beyond all possibility of dispute.


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Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2,  verses 21-23

18 The vanity of human labour, in leaving it they know not to whom
21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
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2  Solomon shews, that there is no true happiness to be had in mirth and the pleasures of sense, Ecc 2:1-11.
He considers wisdom again, and owns it to be an excellent thing, and yet insufficient to give happiness, Ecc 2:12-16.
He shews that business and wealth are only vanity and vexation of spirit, Ecc 2:17-23.
And that if there be any good therein, it is only to these who sit loose to them, Ecc 2:24-26.


2:21 Wisdom - Who uses great industry, and prudence, and justice too, in the use and management of his affairs. To a man - Who has spent his days in sloth and folly. A great evil - A great disorder in itself, and a great torment to a considering mind.


2:22 For what - What comfort or benefit remains to any man after this short and frail life is once ended?


2:23 Sorrows - Full of sorrows. Tho' he took great and unwearied pains all his days, yet the toils of his body were accompanied with vexation of mind. His heart - Because his sleep was broken with perplexing cares.


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Colossians, Chapter 3,  verses 1-5, 9-11

1 He showeth where we should seek Christ, 5 He exhorteth to mortification, 10 to put off the old man, and to put on Christ
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
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9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
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3 


3:1 If ye are risen, seek the things above - As Christ being risen, immediately went to heaven.


3:3 For ye are dead - To the things on earth. And your real, spiritual life is hid from the world, and laid up in God, with Christ - Who hath merited, promised, prepared it for us, and gives us the earnest and foretaste of it in our hearts.


3:4 When Christ - The abruptness of the sentence surrounds us with sudden light. Our life - The fountain of holiness and glory. Shall appear - In the clouds of heaven.


3:5 Mortify therefore - Put to death, slay with a continued stroke. Your members - Which together make up the body of sin.Which are upon the earth - Where they find their nourishment.Uncleanness - In act, word, or thought. Inordinate affection - Every passion which does not flow from and lead to the love ofGod. Evil desire - The desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life. Covetousness - According to the derivation of the word, means the desire of having more, or of any thing independent on God. Which is idolatry - Properly and directly; for it is giving the heart to a creature.


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Luke, Chapter 12,  verses 13-21

13 warneth the people to beware of covetousness by the parable of the rich man who set up greater barns
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Read more:Luke, Chapter 12
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12 


12:14 Who made me a judge? - In worldly things. His kingdom is not of this world.


12:15 He said to them - Perhaps to the two brothers, and through them to the people. A man's life - That is, the comfort or happiness of it.


12:17 What shall I do? - The very language of want! Do? Why, lay up treasure in heaven.


12:20 Thou fool - To think of satisfying thy soul with earthly goods!To depend on living many years! Yea, one day! They - The messengers of death, commissioned by God, require thy soul of thee!


12:21 Rich toward God - Namely, in faith, and love, and good works.


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