Sunday, November 8th, 2020.  Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.
 

Resplendent and unfading is wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. 

Wisdom 6: 12

Enriching the Lives of Others (Wisdom)

We have all used the words ‘foolish’ and ‘wise’ in our lives; this might have been in reference to a situation or describing a person or individual. Think about a person whom you hold to be ‘wise’ in your life. These two words in the Scriptures take on a very different meaning. They are about ways of looking at life. Foolishness/Folly is what is opposed to Wisdom, and a fool is the reverse of a wise person. Folly is a sort of behavior which is self-defeating, immoral, impious and self-seeking. A fool is not provident or prudent.  They are only interested in a life of pleasure and self-satisfaction. (Ecclesiates 2: 1-11)

Wisdom, on the other hand, is the way of the religious man. It leads to victory. Wisdom is what one must seek. It is the art of a good life. It is being prudent, knowing how to control one’s instincts; it is acting with caution; it is humility and modesty. Wisdom is what those who govern need to learn and must depend on, not privileges. Wisdom is gotten from a close relationship with God. It is about self-less service, enriching the lives of others, or living a full life for others.

We are challenged by the readings this weekend to be ‘wise’ and to seek wisdom as a way of living a full life. Seek the betterment of others, take others as our responsibility. This is the path to wisdom.

Who are those who are worthy of Lady Wisdom in the first reading? Who will she avail herself to?  Those who are ready to live a life beyond self, those who understand that ‘your life is about more than you' are the ones.

The five wise bridesmaids have something over the ‘foolish ones.’ They are ‘foresighted’—they prepare and are ready. They take their responsibilities seriously. They are fully aware that this is not about themselves. The function of the bridesmaids was to make sure the bride was alert at the time the groom came so they would be ready to make the journey to the groom’s home, which meant they kept vigil and were vigilant. They fill their lamps that nothing goes wrong. This again is not about them!  If they do not, then why were they chosen, for what? They would be useless. They will make this a true feast and be ready. To be wise is to think about enriching others.

In our world today, what do you think it means to be ‘wise’? Might it mean getting ahead? Being on top? Success at all costs? Self-seeking, Self-propagating? Self-promoting?  Yet this cannot be so for the believer/Christian. The more families live a life of enriching others, they have found wisdom. When parents teach their children to live unselfishly for others, doing good and living a full life not only for self, their children discover wisdom. A good leader who is wise seeks the betterment of those he/she leads—that is the root of a great leader.
Jesus, in the Eucharist, offers us a true vision of a full life, a life lived for others and enriching others with his death on the Cross for us.

How then can we be like him? How can we, who claim to be Christian, bring and live this way of life as salt and light for the world around us?

— Father Anthony