Thursday of the 25th week of Ordinary Time

2Ecclesiastes said: Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity! 3What more does a man have from all his labor, as he labors under the sun? 4A generation passes away, and a generation arrives. But the earth stands forever. 5The sun rises and sets; it returns to its place, and from there, being born again, 6it circles through the south, and arcs toward the north. The spirit continues on, illuminating everything in its circuit, and turning again in its cycle. 7All rivers enter into the sea, and the sea does not overflow. To the place from which the rivers go out, they return, so that they may flow again. 8Such things are difficult; man is not able to explain them with words. The eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor is the ear fulfilled by hearing. 9What is it that has existed? The same shall exist in the future. What is it that has been done? The same shall continue to be done. 10There is nothing new under the sun. Neither is anyone able to say: “Behold, this is new!” For it has already been brought forth in the ages that were before us. 11There is no remembrance of the former things. Indeed, neither shall there be any record of past things in the future, for those who will exist at the very end.

3And, lest man be turned aside in humiliation, you have said: Be converted, O sons of men.

4For a thousand years before your eyes are like the days of yesterday, which have passed by, and they are like a watch of the night,

5which was held for nothing: so their years shall be.

6In the morning, he may pass away like grass; in the morning, he may flower and pass away. In the evening, he will fall, and harden, and become dry.

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12be numbered? So make known your right hand, along with men learned in heart, in wisdom.

13Return, O Lord, how long? And may you be persuaded on behalf of your servants.

14We were filled in the morning with your mercy, and we exulted and delighted all our days.

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17And may the splendor of the Lord our God be upon us. And so, direct the works of our hands over us; direct even the work of our hands.

7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all the things that were being done by him, but he doubted, because it was said 8by some, “For John has risen from the dead,” yet truly, by others, “For Elijah has appeared,” and by still others, “For one of the prophets from of old has risen again.” 9And Herod said: “I beheaded John. So then, who is this, about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.