Deacon Tom Writes,
“A Word to the Wise.”
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Not surprisingly, the Wisdom passage we read today gives us good, sound advice, a “word to the wise”, you might say. It tells us, “to forsake foolishness that you may live” and “to advance in the way of understanding”. Surely this is practical advice, yet easier said than done! St. Paul carries this theme even further in his letter to the Ephesians telling them, “to watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons, but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil”.
Scripture often portrays this theme that there are two very different approaches to life. On one hand, we have the way of the wise and virtuous person who chooses to do what is right and just. The other is the way of the fool, whose life is anything but virtuous. The author of this wisdom passage encourages us to choose wisely and make the most of the opportunity we have been given.
Wisdom, we are told, enables us to grow in understanding so that we make the most of every opportunity. What a thought! Any decision that we make will have consequences, results that have either good or bad outcomes. In other words, Wisdom holds the secret to the quality of our life. Good decisions lead to good outcomes which leads to good lives. Bad choices... we know too well, from our own experiences, perhaps, where that path leads, don’t we?
Many today complain that our world is troubled and they fear that it will get worse. After all, what St. Paul says to the Ephesians remains true for us today, “the days are evil”. We have problems, to be sure, that approach the diabolical. But fear and worry will do little to change that. On the other hand, Wisdom invites us today to embrace her and follow her advice to make most of the opportunity that we have been given. What opportunity? The opportunity, “to live in a manner worthy of the calling you have received”. (Eph 4:1) Yes, we live in troubled times; yes, there are plenty of problems, so much divisiveness, and the lack of civility. How are we to respond? By relying on Wisdom to lead us through these troubled waters and direct our efforts so we can help make this world a better place and advance the Kingdom of God on earth.
Scripture proclaims a “word to the wise” today. May God give us the grace and the wisdom to listen.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacons engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it.
OTHER RESOURCE
Recommended Reading: No Man Is An Island by Thomas Merton. "Without a life of the spirit, our whole existence becomes unsubstantial and illusory. The life of the spirit, by integrating us in the real order established by God, puts us in the fullest possible contact with reality — not as we imagine it, but as it really is."
Recommended YouTube Video: The Lifelong Journey of Discovering God and Ourselves: Thomas Merton and the True Self. Fr. Dan Horan O. F. M leads us into Merton’s foundational work on discovering our true identity as we seek to answer the two questions: Who am I and Who is God. Good listening here with another of the contemporary Franciscan Friars, Fr. Dan Horan.
No comments:
Post a Comment