Time - Week 3: Tuesday

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 
 A time to give birth And a time to die;

A time to plant And a time to pluck what is planted.

A time to kill And a time to heal;


A time to pull down And a time to build up.

A time to weep And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn And a time to dance.

A time to throw stones And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace And a time to refrain from embracing.
 A time to seek And a time to lose;


A time to keep And a time to throw away.
 A time to tear And a time to sew;

A time to keep silent And a time to speak.
 A time to love And a time to hate;


A time of war And a time of peace.


Commentary

St. Basil the Great

It is necessary to bear in mind that for certain other tasks a particular time is allotted, according to the words of Ecclesiastes: “All things have their season.” For prayer and psalmody, however, as also, indeed, for some other duties, every hour is suitable, that, while our hands are busy at their tasks, we may praise God sometimes with the tongue (when this is possible or, rather, when it is conducive to edification); or, if not, with the heart, at least, in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, as it is written. Thus in the midst of our work we can fulfill the duty of prayer, giving thanks to him who has granted strength to our hands for performing our tasks and cleverness to our minds for acquiring knowledge.