28th Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B By Rev. Fr Lucas Binnah Junior

First Reading: Wisdom 7:7-11 / Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:12-13.14.15.16-17 (R. 14) Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13/Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 5:3/Gospel: Mark 10:17-30

Theme: Wisdom Nuggets

A story is told of a dog and a tortoise who contested in a 100-meter race. The dog was upbeat and very confident that the tortoise was no match for it. Obviously, the dog was very far ahead of the tortoise when the race begun. Along the way, the dog stepped on a bone and this made it to stop. Being very attractive, the dog took the bone and started to eat and play with it. By the time it was done with the bone, the tortoise had crossed the finish-line. Today’s liturgical readings tell us that life is full of choices – good and bad – and it is wisdom plus the right attitude which can help us to make the right ones. Like Oliver Twist, we need more of them; and to this, we now turn our focus!

In the first reading, the author of the Book of Wisdom personifies Wisdom and gives us the rationale behind his choice, passion and dream for her. For him, wisdom is second to none and incomparable to other things such as wealth, health and beauty. We read: “I preferred her [Lady wisdom] to sceptres and thrones, and I counted wealth as nothing in comparison with her…I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases” (Wis. 7:8,10). The single choice one makes for wisdom brings along all else needed, and so the author continues: “All good things came along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth” (Wis. 7:11). The aforementioned verses are attributed to King Solomon, David’s son and successor to the throne. When he ascended the throne of his father, Solomon longed and ardently prayed for divine wisdom more than anything else (see Wis. 9:1-18). He desired it passionately!

Consequently, to obtain divine wisdom, we are encouraged to pray fervently for it. That is what Solomon did when we read: “I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me” (Wis. 7:7). We need to pray always for wisdom to guide us. Particularly, we are to beg God: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain wisdom of heart” (Ps. 90:12). It is in this same vein the Psalmist prays: “Fill us with your merciful love, O Lord, and we shall exult” (Ps. 90:14). Wisdom was Solomon’s priority even though he could have chosen ‘more attractive’ things. His prayer was not only answered, it also pleased God to grant even more than what he asked for (cf. I Kgs. 3:4-15). Definitely, King Solomon chose wisdom and also had the right attitude to receive it!

On the other hand, from the action of the rich man in today’s Gospel, we can say that he neither pursued the path of wisdom nor had the disposition for it. In the teaching of Jesus, true wisdom lies in making others happy by helping them: “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me” (Mk.10:21). The rich man thought he had satisfied all the commandments of God. Little did he know that he had satisfied only the ‘don’ts’ but not the ‘dos.’ That was his problem! He thought not committing murder, adultery, stealing and other vices was enough to secure him heaven. That is only half way; the other half is to do something actively for others. Christianity consists not only in not doing certain things but also taking action! His offence was omission – failing to do – and even when Jesus pointed that out to him, as it were, presented him with a wisdom nugget, he went away sad because he put all his trust in his riches. The lesson or wisdom nugget to pick from this is that, putting our trust in material possessions keeps us fixated on this world and not beyond it. It blinds our value system and makes us misplace priority. Saint Paul’s advice in this regard is ad rem (see I Tim. 6:17-19).

The second nugget is found in the statement in the Gospel: “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life” (Mk. 10:29-30). There is nothing we do for the sake of God that will not be rewarded. Even though we need not understand this solely in material terms, in a quid pro quo sense – where there is material reward for a material sacrifice – we are assured of hundredfold blessing. We need to note that there are persecutions attached. Perhaps, Jesus is telling us that we will not obtain blessings in an easy way. They do not come cheaply as some think that way. It will cost us something! Eternal blessings are never promised us in this passing world but in the world to come. What is most certain is that God will repay us in this world and the next if we try to live charitably.

The third nugget to pursue is that life is all about choices and we are to make informed and best choices. That was what Solomon did in the first reading. Through ardent prayer, he yearned for and chose wisdom in preference to wealth and other naturally-attractive but ephemeral things.

Today, we have many hungry and starving people everywhere. They are ubiquitous. They live with us. We worship with them. We move around with them. Most of the time, such people neither choose poverty voluntarily nor engage in knowable self-inflicting lifestyles of poverty. What pertains is the absence of an enabling environment which can help people to develop themselves. We see structural evil, bad governance, greed and self-centredness all around us. We even pursue ill-gotten wealth without minding the people upon whom we trample, their natural resources we exploit and their natural environment we destroy without any atom of consideration! What about the unfair trade policies in the international and local markets? It is ironical that those who produce raw materials are unable to determine their own prices; and they get less than what is due them!

Again, the gap between the rich and the poor in society is not getting narrow even though the world is advancing. We have advanced health systems, however, many people are getting sick and dying. Education is being promoted more than ever, and yet, the world’s problems keep increasing. The virtue of wisdom seems to escape us, so we fail to recognise that it is from this, that most of our problems spring! Bribery and corruption, armed-robbery, kidnapping, murder, substance abuse, drug-peddling, violence, etc, cannot be dissociated entirely from the rich-poor divide. Although it is unjustifiable to engage in these practices, the instinct of self-preservation keeps people busy in them. Assuming politicians, governments and leaders in general ensure that power is used to serve the needs of the governed, will there not be a reduction in these social ills? If we help one another, will we not be better together? If we improve living conditions for all, will all not be happy?

So how can we gain wisdom, cherish and grow in it? We must turn to Jesus, the Word, Power and Wisdom of God (cf. Jn. 1:1-14, I Cor. 1:24). That is why the second reading, the Letter to the Hebrews, teaches us to turn to the living and active word of God. Specifically, we read that the word of God is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart (cf. Heb. 4:12). There’s absolutely nothing hidden to God. He knows our secret intentions and emotions. Even the deep things known to us alone are naked before God. When we surrender our decisions and choices to God in the light of his word, we will be guided by his Spirit whose gift is wisdom (cf. Is. 11:1-2)

Beloved in Christ, wealth without wisdom can lead to profligacy and abject poverty. Intelligence without wisdom makes one not only arrogant but also imprudent. Holiness without wisdom can even lead to foolhardiness, and perhaps, that is why Jesus tells us the Parable of the Ten Virgins of which five are said to be wise while the other five, foolish. We are invited to pray earnestly for wisdom and to make her the companion in our lives. We are created in and with freedom. This affords us the ability to make choices. Thus, we all possess freewill. Every day we make choices and decisions. We are responsible for whatever choice we make. At the beginning of his reign, Solomon chose wisdom and with that, God blessed him with wealth and renown. Later on, when he departed from the way of wisdom, the consequences were brutal and even affected generations after him. We cannot afford to miss the wisdom nuggets available to us while we are alive. Let us pause for a moment and ask ourselves about the decisions we have made and are yet to make. Are they inspired by divine wisdom? Are they selfish or other-centred? Do we have space for the underprivileged in our thoughts and actions? Do we genuinely bless others with the blessings we have or do we use our wealth to exploit others. Do we help people for ulterior motives or for their own sakes? Do we often think about the hereafter, about heaven and hell? Where will we spend eternity? Let us pray fervently for divine wisdom so as to make loving choices in our lives now and always. Happy Sunday and may God bless us! Remember to choose: #Wisdom-Nuggets#