Daily Catholic Lectio
Fri, 27 Sep ‘24
XXV Week in Ordinary Time, Friday
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11. Luke 9:18-22
Complementary, not duality!
Both the reading from Ecclesiastes and the Gospel of Luke show us that life is not a matter of opposing forces, but rather of harmonizing elements that work together under God’s providence. We are invited to see how God integrates both joy and suffering, time and eternity, and human weakness with divine strength into His perfect plan.
1. Seasons of life are complementary
Ecclesiastes 3 (first reading) presents us with a series of contrasting events: “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to weep, and a time to laugh.” At first glance, these appear as opposing forces, but the key is to see how they complement one another. God has created life in such a way that each season is necessary and meaningful. Life is not divided into good and bad times, but rather a flow of complementary experiences that together form a meaningful journey. Each moment, whether of joy or sorrow, contributes to the wholeness of life.
Instead of seeing life in terms of duality – where one season is good and another is bad – we are called to embrace the complementarity of life’s moments. Each season has its purpose and value under God’s plan, teaching us to trust in His providence.
2. The complementarity of suffering and salvation
In the gospel reading, Jesus asks His disciples about His identity. Peter answers, “The Christ of God,” acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, Jesus immediately speaks about His impending suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. For the disciples, this was difficult to accept – they saw the Messiah as a figure of triumph, not one who would suffer. However, Jesus shows that suffering and glory are not in conflict but are part of the same mission. His suffering complements the work of salvation, leading to resurrection and eternal life.
Suffering and redemption are not opposing forces, but complementary realities in the mystery of salvation. Jesus’ path to glory involved the Cross, showing us that our trials, when united with His, are part of God’s plan for transformation and new life.
3. God’s plan unites time and eternity
Ecclesiastes tells us that God “has made everything beautiful in its time,” and yet “He has put eternity into man’s heart.” This passage reveals the profound truth that time and eternity are not separate realms but complement each other. While we live within the limits of time, we have a deep longing for eternity. God has woven these together, allowing our temporal lives to lead us toward eternal communion with Him. Our present life, with its seasons of change, is preparation for the fullness of life with God.
Our journey on earth, though marked by time, is a participation in God’s eternal plan. We should not see time as separate from eternity, but as a complementary part of the divine mystery, guiding us toward our ultimate fulfilment in God.
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The ‘pilgrims of hope’ live in the faith that God, who makes all things beautiful in His time, is leading us to the fullness of life with Him. (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 210)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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