Fathers

Ecclesiastes 12

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Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;” Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!” Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

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What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Eastern Fathers

Desert Fathers

Evagrius said, 'While you sit in your cell, recall your attention, and remember the day of your death and you will see that your body is decaying. Think about the loss, feel the pain. Shrink from the vanity of the world outside. Be retiring, and be careful to keep your vow of quiet, and you will not weaken. Remember the souls in hell. Meditate on their condition, the bitter silence and the moaning, the fear and the strife, the waiting and the pain without relief, the tears that cannot cease to flow. …

The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks ↗

Cyprian

We ask that the will of God may be done both in heaven and in earth, each of which things pertains to the fulfillment of our safety and salvation. For since we possess the body from the earth and the spirit from heaven, we ourselves are earth and heaven; and in both—that is, both in body and spirit—we pray that God's will may be done.

Treatise IV. On the Lord's Prayer 4:16 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Near the end of the book called Ecclesiastes there is a passage about the dissolution of man, brought about by that death through which the soul is separated from the body, where the Scripture says, "And let the dust return into its earth, as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it." This authoritative statement is unquestionably true and leads no one into error. …

Letter 143 ↗

Jerome

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." He goes on more clearly: "the dust will return to the earth, whence it was taken, and the spirit is returned to God, who gave it". From which there is enough to smile at in those who think that spirits are produced with bodies, not from God, but are made from the parent's body. For when the flesh is returned to the earth, and the spirit goes back to God, who gave it; it is obvious that God is the parent of all spirits, not man.

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Bonaventure

Fifth, the incineration of the whole body is noted, when it is said: "And let the dust return to its earth, whence it was," that is, let the body be reduced to ashes, according to that passage in Genesis 3: "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." "To its earth," because it is from it: Sirach 40: "All things that are made of earth shall return to earth." Sixth, the return of the spirit or soul to God is touched upon: whence he says: "And let the spirit return to God, who gave it." The Lord himself gives the spirit, whence it is …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 ↗