There is a
set of books of the Old Testament known as the Wisdom literature: the book of
Psalms, the book of Wisdom, the Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and the book of Proverbs
from which our first reading this morning was taken. These books don’t tell much of a story, they
aren’t filled with dramatic action like the book of Genesis or the
Gospels. These books contain songs and
sayings, they reflect on existential questions about God, our human condition,
the nature of evil and suffering. Yet, these
books are inspired by God to help us to think rightly and to see the world as
God sees them.
Though there
is very little story in these books, they do contain a reoccurring
character. Wisdom is personified as a
woman. I don’t know if that’s because
women are wiser than men; both men and women can fall into terrible,
destructive foolishness. Likely, it is
because the Old Testament authors see Wisdom as beautiful and charming—those
who know her, want to spend time with her.
Even the pagan Greeks new this, which is why they coined the term
Philosophia…the love of wisdom.
In the first
reading, Lady Wisdom has thrown a banquet, at which those who participate are
invited to learn, to grow in wisdom: let the simple and those who lack
understanding come and eat and forsake foolishness. She throws a banquet in order to form
disciples.
This passage
from Proverbs is part of a longer passage in which Lady Wisdom is contrasted
with Lady Folly. Folly is characterized
as a woman. Again, I don’t think that’s
because women are fuller of folly than men.
Lady Folly has no lack of disciples from either sex.
In this
passage Lady Wisdom builds a house of learning, she invites the unwise to come
and learn, she throws a feast where the meat and drink is wisdom. Lady Folly on the other hand, guess what she
does. She also hosts a meal, but all she
offers is stolen bread and water. And
what she entices her guests to is riches and an easy life. Who here doesn’t know someone who simply wants
to live the rich and easy life without any work, without growing in wisdom?
Wisdom
promises a much more difficult path, but the path that leads to true happiness. Wisdom helps us to order our lives according
to God’s priorities.
Choosing whether
you will follow Lady Wisdom or Lady Folly is one of the most important
decisions in one’s life. But be careful,
for Jesus Himself explains the consequences for making the wrong choice when he
says, “Broad and Easy is the way that leads to destruction; enter through the
narrow Gate, which alone leads to life.”
Of course, Lady Folly’s route is the broad and easy way; Lady Wisdom’s
is the narrow gate, which our Lord says few choose to enter. One way leads to everlasting life, the other
to perdition.
In
antiquity, people thought that the place at which Wisdom was shared was at
table, at a meal. When I was younger, I
used to love to go to dinner at my grandparents house, and simply listen to the
adults speak. Today, isn’t there a
danger, with all of the electronic devices, that our children and grandchildren
will not learn the wisdom of their elders?
The table was the place where people who enjoyed each other, sat and
shared stories, and family wisdom. Is it
any wonder that Our Lord does so much of his work sitting at table with sinners—that
they may sit and learn his wisdom. Yet,
these days, the family table has been foolishly replaced by sports practice and
Netflix. A travesty.
It was clear
to the early Church that coming to the table of Eucharist meant a partaking of
the Wisdom of God. In fact, often Jesus
is given that title—the Wisdom of God.
St. Paul calls Jesus the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.
When we come
to Mass we are choosing the way of Life, the way of Wisdom, and we partake of
Wisdom Himself, when we eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus Christ. When we receive the Eucharist, we are asking
God to convert everything that is foolish in us, every foolish attitude, every
foolish behavior, to orient us to Christ.
And so each
of us are challenged today, to consider, when I come to Mass, do I come in
order to be changed? Do I recognize
myself as foolish needing Wisdom? Before Mass begins we do very well to reflect
upon those parts of us that need conversion.
To admit, “you know, I’ve been pretty foolish lately, in my
conversations with my spouse; I’ve been foolish in the television shows I’ve
watched; I’ve been foolish not to reach out to my lonely neighbor; I’ve been
foolish to think so highly of myself.”
And then to pray, Wisdom of God, during this Mass teach me, change me,
form me, shape me.
If you come
to Mass with out changing…did you really partake? Rather, we should come to Mass, ready to eat,
hungry for Wisdom, prepared to learn, to sit at the feet of Jesus, the True
teacher, as his disciples, to learn how I may better imitate Him, how I may
more closely follow Him in the ways of righteousness and self-sacrifice.
Many of our
brothers and sisters are foolish for not coming to Mass every week, but we are
foolish if we come here not wanting to change.
In our Second Reading, St. Paul urges us, “Watch
carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making
the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.” So we need to make the most of coming to Mass by
seeking the conversion and the Wisdom the Lord wishes to impart on us in this
sacred place.
The table,
the banquet, is also a place of intimacy.
When our elders share their wisdom, they are sharing their hearts and
minds. So too Jesus, at this Meal,
shares the inner workings of his heart, the fire of love which led him to lay
down his life for us, that we may come to see God face to face in heaven.
As Jesus
opens his heart to us, let us open our hearts to him, and allow him to lead us
from folly to wisdom, from perdition to blessedness, from sin to life, for the
glory of God and salvation of souls.
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