28th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Monday - Repentance and Wisdom

 In today’s Gospel, The Lord contrasts the failure of his audience to believe in Him and heed His call to repentance with two Old Testament stories. 

First, he references the repentance of the Ninevites at the preaching of Jonah. Jonah, a mere man, preaches God’s message of repentance to a pagan nation, and the entire kingdom enthusiastically heeds his words, from the king all the way down to the humblest stablehand. the Ninevites repent in sackcloth and ashes of their wickedness.

So, Jesus contrasts the dramatic, enthusiastic, nation-wide repentance of the Ninevites with the unbelieving, hardhearted, near nation-wide rejection of His call to repentance. The Church is challenged by the Lord to make sure that we are a lot more like the Ninevites than those he calls an evil generation for their failure to repent and believe.

Next, the Lord references a second Old Testament story: that of the queen of the south. When it became known throughout the world that Solomon was the wisest of rulers, the Queen of Sheba traveled over 1,660 miles to hear of his wisdom—a journey that took at least three months, to meet him, not to mention the lavish expense of the journey—feeding her courtiers and whatnot. The book of proverbs says seek wisdom at all costs. Wisdom is more precious than gold and silver, and the one who cherishes wisdom, shall prosper. 

So again, Jesus contrasts the dramatic, enthusiastic, spare-no-expense search for wisdom of the queen of Sheba, with the foolish, hardhearted rejection of his Godly wisdom. Jesus is essentially calling his audience fools to their faces, for Proverbs says, fools despise wisdom and instruction. The Church is challenged here to make sure that we are doing everything we can to grow in wisdom, to live according to the wisdom of God rather than the foolishness of the worldly.  

Repentance and wisdom go hand-in-hand. Wisdom acknowledges that we have been foolish in our sins and leads us to repentance. It is a fool who fails to acknowledge his sin. Repentance opens us up to the wisdom that we have foolishly disregarded. Repentance means a new beginning.

St. James says, “if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.”

Today and all days, may we lavishly and enthusiastically pursue wisdom, the wisdom of God revealed in his scriptures, in the lives and writings of the saints, in the teaching of the Church, and with the help of God, may we apply that wisdom to our lives, wisely considering all of those attitudes, behaviors, and selfish choices of which we need to repent for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

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That all people may seek the wisdom that comes forth from the mouth of God; that Church leaders may wisely order the life of the Church, and that government leaders may conduct their affairs with wisdom, prudence, and justice.

For our young people, that they may be raised in homes where the Word of God is studied, cherished, and practiced. 

During this month of October, dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, may Catholics take up this devotion with renewed vigor and trust in Our Lady’s never-failing intercession. {Cantor will sing}

For all victims of war, For hurricane victims and for all affected by flooding and severe weather conditions, and for those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: that they may know God’s sustaining grace.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish; for all of the poor souls in purgatory and for N.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.