Monday, June 13, 2011

Book of Ecclesiastes -- Resources

Sunset over Indian Ocean -- NASA International Space Station May 2010

Abbot Isaac assigned the Book of Ecclesiastes for the August 7, 2011, Oblate meeting at St. Leo Abbey.  For information about this class contact the Oblate office.

Where to begin and end in reading:

The best way to read might be in the slow, listening method of monks who primarily read the Bible to hear what God is telling them today.  It is not a reading or study using academic methods to acquire information.  Scripture is for lectio divina, the slow prayerful reading when we are prepared to stop when God speaks to our heart. 
 
To help in our further reading, here are online resources.  The following materials are from many different traditions and theology, please use sound discretion as you read: 

Overview and Text:
 From the Office of Readings:
  • Homily by Saint Gregory of Nyssa
  • Homily by Saint Gregory of Agrigentum

Commentary/Outline: Ecclesiastes

Jewish Resources/Explanations

      Orthodox Views:

      Paraphrase of Ecclesiastes:

      From the Vatican:

      My Questions on Ecclesiastes:

      When Abbot Isaac assigned the Book of Ecclesiastes, we had just finished reading the Book of Job.  I thought there might be a connection between the two books and that caused me to have the following questions which I am thinking about now as I begin:
      • Do the Books of Job and Ecclesiastes address the same topics, but follow different paths?
      • Do both books arrive at the same destination in the end?
      • In what sense may the Book of Ecclesiastes be thought of as the first book in the Bible for a secular world?
      • Are Job's sufferings futility and emptiness or are they seen that way in the end? 
        

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          Posted by Saint Leo Abbey Oblates at 10:35:00 PM

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