Deacon Tom Writes,
“Praying For Wisdom”
Sometimes we don’t make the right decision. If we are lucky our wrong choice
is about a small matter, something with few or no negative consequences. We
don’t intend to make a poor choice. On the contrary, we normally act out of our
own best interest seeking the best possible outcome whenever we make a choice
of our own volition.
We live in an amazingly complex society. We make
choices from the moment we wake up in the morning. We have so many choices
about what career path to follow, where to live, the person to date or marry,
what car to drive or college to attend. These are weighty decisions with
enormous consequences and life can become tragic if we choose poorly.
Our readings today provide some divine guidance to
assist us in our decision making process. They do so by setting out a process
for us to follow to aid us in making the best decision possible. What are the
steps scripture presents us with to guide us anytime we have a decision to
make? The first step as we learn in the first reading from the Book of Wisdom
is “to pray” for the “spirit of wisdom.” That should not
surprise anyone who considers himself or herself a Christian, a follower of
Jesus. Prayer is always the first choice as we begin the day, or enter the
hustle and bustle of our daily activity, and as we enter our evening rest. It
is through prayer we are able to act in such a way as to make the best possible
choice out of the myriad opportunities we have. For prayer opens us to the
Wisdom of God that then enables one to see the intrinsic value of the choices
before us. Do I choose the best for me, taking all for myself, which comes as my
natural inclination or does Wisdom inform my choice so that my concern is not
for myself alone but for others whom I claim as my brothers and sisters in
Christ.
You see, prayer and the Wisdom that enters our lives
because we place ourselves before the Lord makes a tremendous difference in the
choices we make in life. Prayer may alter the course of our life so that we
choose to dedicate ourselves to improving the lives of others by becoming
teachers, public defenders, working in a medical clinic rather than seeing to promote
our own personal achievement and success. Scripture is always calling us to a
life of self-sacrifice and surrender compared to a life of self-satisfaction
and worldly accomplishment.
We live at a time and place where there isn’t much
wisdom, only a lot of foolishness of the highest magnitude. Call it the wisdom
of the world if you will. It is meant to satisfy only the here and now. It
won’t last; it isn’t intended to, for it only satisfies our physical and
material needs. The Wisdom described in today’s readings is a manifestation of
God’s very identity. It is a part of God’s very being. God shares His Wisdom, a
very part of His nature with those who ask for it, with those who seek lasting
riches found only in the things from above.
If our prayer life leads us to choose to seek the
things from above, we will never be disappointed. God’s Wisdom will guide us on
our earthly journey and enlighten us along the way so we don’t make the wrong
choice or settle for second best.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
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