How to truly be wise...
Reflections on the readings for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 8, 2019): WIS 9:13-18; PS 90:3-4,5-6,12-13,14,17; PHMN 9-10,12-17; LK 14:25-33
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
The Old Testament reading today reminds us of the value of true wisdom that comes from only from God.
“Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns” (Wisdom 9:13-15). The question that starts this passage has a simple answer: no one knows the Lord’s counsel or what He intends. That is, of course, unless God reveals it. Our human minds can never gain real insight and understanding on our own. Only by opening ourselves to God’s grace and will can we grow in wisdom and so draw closer to Him.
We need to trust God completely if we want to know, love and serve Him. We need to let Him live in us and lead us so that we can become the people He always intended us to be – His children truly made in His image. Then, in both time and eternity, we will share His life and love and know His peace. He will claim us for Himself, if we, in turn, claim Him.
Suggested missionary action: We can ask God to guide us and help us cooperate in all He plans for our welfare. We can put ourselves in His hands so that we may do and be everything He desires of us.
