13/10/2024

Twenty-eight Sunday in Ordinary Time

 In the first reading we heard:

“I prayed…and the spirit of wisdom was given to me.”

1 Cor 12,8 “One may have the gift of preaching wisdom.”

Wisdom in perception is seeing things and people as God sees them – as Jesus Christ showed.

Wisdom in action is doing the right things; doing what – were Jesus here and now – would do. Details are set out in the Gospel today.

Both first and gospel readings are about wisdom - In eastern philosophy - enlightenment.

Friedrich Wolfgang von Goethe said “All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly till they take firm root in our personal experience.”

Enlightened folk are aware of misinformation and though not cynical are sceptical on what is there in the press and social media - above all in US politics.

They know and admit their own shortcomings, weaknesses, and prejudices and take steps to compensate for these – and improve their behaviours.

They learn from others about wise investments of  time, energy and funds.

They have learned that nature  - its colours and shapes – its beauty -  help raise depressions and nature's phytoncides (worth looking up this word) are great for physical as well as mental health.

That wise saint Benedict of Norcia brought gardening and farming into the daily lives of his monks. It helped maintain their holistic well-being.

Enlightened people see the reality of God in creation - above all in the human, ear, eye and brain. As a watch - far less complex - must have a designer, the genius of creator God is there for the unprejudiced to perceive - and help them love the divine genius Creator we call God.