Seek Wisdom
by Fr. David M. Knight
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Thirtieth-first week of the Year
Phil 2:12-18/Lk 14:25-33 (Lectionary 487)
How do we “save” our lives—on this earth—from “veering off” to destructiveness and distortion, mediocrity or just meaninglessness?
Philippians 2:12-18 tells us it is first a matter of desire that is a gift of God.
It is God who, in his good will toward you, begets in you any measure of desire or achievement.
As we have already seen, this is the gift of Wisdom: the gift of “taste” or appreciation for spiritual things. This gift is given to all who ask for it.
Paul associates the “saving” of our lives” with enlightenment:
Prove yourselves innocent and straightforward, children of God beyond reproach in the midst of a twisted and depraved generation, among whom you shine like stars in the sky, while holding fast to the word of life.
The Responsorial affirms it: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” In John’s Gospel light and life are almost synonymous. And Jesus counts on his disciples to give life by giving his light to others. It is obvious that if we do not “hold fast to the word of life” as disciples, “learners,” by reading and reflecting on Scripture, we have small chance of saving either our own lives or the lives of those around us from destructiveness, distortion, mediocrity and meaninglessness.
Unfortunately, it is just as obvious that the great majority of Christians do not even try—at least not consistently or systematically—to increase their knowledge of the Scriptures or of God—even though the Church has repeated for centuries the teaching of St. Jerome (died 420 A.D.): “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
Paul gives an added motive. He “looks to the day of Christ,” aware his own life is about to be “poured out as a libation” over the faith he has nourished in others. He knows he did not “run in vain or work to no purpose.” Enlightenment is a prerequisite for stewardship.
What was Jesus thinking—and feeling—in Luke 14:25-33, when he said no one can be his disciple who is not willing to “hate” (that is, “leave” or “go against”) “father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters” and even “life itself”? Was he saying that the mediocre love and dedication he saw—and sees now—in Christians just isn’t worthy of what he is? Just not enough for the job, the mission he gives us? Does this inspire us to more?
Initiative: See the fields “ripe for harvesting.” What will you leave to reap them?
Reflections brought to you by the Immersed in Christ Ministry
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