The song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds is playing in the background as I write this. The passage from Ecclesiastes in today first reading became a folk-rock musical hit in the 1960s. The words to the popular song are almost word for word from the Biblical verse with the addition of the phrase turn, turn, turn. Whether the folk-rock song or the type on a computer screen, these words always soothe me. From the time the words were first written in the Old Testament, to the turbulent 1960s to today, the words remind us of the cyclical nature of life, and how we can hold out hope for what’s to come. Life has times that we mourn and times that we dance. What is constant is God and God’s love for us through all of these times. The words also remind me of what precious gifts we have in time and life, how blessed we are to feel sadness and joy.
In the Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus is praying in solitude with the apostles. A time to pray. Jesus is thinking of what’s to come with his crucifixion and resurrection. His time was short, but he knew what was to come. We don’t know what will come, but we can trust in God that there will be times of sowing and reaping, of laughter and of tears. We can make the most of the time we have to be good stewards of the lives we have. We can have faith in God and hope for peace in our own lives, the lives of others and the world.
Carol Zuegner
Writing and reading the Daily Reflections helps me connect with my faith.
