CYCLE A 17TH SUNDAY
1. As I reflect how things have advanced in life, through Education, with Family, at work, in Church, or with Friends, I can HUMBLY say that I have been gifted with WISDOM. Both the practical and spiritual.
And I feel the urge to grow. Yet there are times after the battles of the day are done, that I think I haven’t reached 1st base. I am frustrated and find my self seemingly on empty. Even such surefire Wise idioms as check your engine oil and tire inflation before taking a trip, or eat healthy foods seem stupid and trivial to others.
2. In Genesis, Adam is portrayed as having WISDOM of the highest order. (UNSURPASSED…until King Solomon took his throne.) Adam’s gift of wisdom is shown in his ability to name and categorize God’s creation. Highlighted by his ability to recognize Eve as being ‘bone from my bone and flesh from my flesh.” Adam’s SCIENTIFIC WISDOM put order into man’s understanding of the environment, giving creation it’s proper esteem and use.
3. In scripture though, the WISDOM that comes to the forefront, and the gift we are encouraged seek, is NOT in SKILL or SCIENCE however, but in what might be termed as WISDOM of the ‘RIGHT UNDERSTANDING’ to the art of Living for GOD, SELF and OTHERS.
Wisdom can not be imposed upon us. Rules and laws do and don’t Promote Right Understanding. Examples: Good Law would be abolition of Slavery. A bad law would be the one legalizing Abortion.
So Rather we are to seek, to expose and cultivate wisdoms ‘Right Understanding’ in our HEARTS as early as possible in our lives or as life‘s experiences unfold. True Wisdom is learned, assimilated and gifted. As we gain Wisdom, it helps us each to individually find the ‘RIGHTNESS’ in our SEARCH for RICHES, in our TREATMENT of PEOPLE, and in our GOVERNANCE of home and social BEHAVIORS.
But we must remember 2 things about the Wisdom of scripture:
1) True Wisdom is a Gift from God. This Wisdom does not ignore God. It points us toward Him. We must use wisdom to get wisdom. In Proverbs it says, “the beginning of wisdom is fear of God”
2) True Wisdom is God’s Law in the heart. And following them leads us to eternal life, as we journey here on earth. In Deut 4-6, it says, “Observe the law carefully, for thus you will give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to other nations”. Wisdom is a MANUAL of the heart about Good Common Sense.
4. So now comes King Solomon from our 1st reading which relives for us Solomon’s DEFINING MOMENT before Yahweh.
-In a dream Yahweh appears to Solomon. Telling him to ‘Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
-Solomon taking his status as Young King in to account, asks for an ‘UNDERSTANDING HEART’ to serve Yahweh’s people.
-Yahweh was pleased that Solomon didn’t ask for RICHES, a LONG LIFE or DEATH TO his ENIMIES.
5. Solomon from that ‘MOMENT’ on, is historically venerated as Israel’s most illustrious representative and patron of God’s Wisdom in the Kingdom of Israel. And in scripture, is placed under his name some of it’s most important writings. (Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, Sirach) His wisdom was all inclusive. Under King Solomon, Israel was the LEAD in the splendor of the culture of the time. And through him they received the Wisdom connected with scriptures meaning of ‘Wisdom’. Israel collectively had the gift of knowing how to live, how to distinguish right from wrong, the true from false, the helpful from destructive or the authentic from fake. When Solomon chose his gift it extended to all of Israel to build Yahweh’s Kingdom.
6. The talk of the last few Sundays’ has been the Establishment of the kingdom of God. That simply means that Jesus must become King. That he must acquire and take possession of His territory and establish rule in it. The Territory that Jesus wants to take possession of and rule…is not the land of Israel or the USA, IT IS YOUR HEART.
The Gospel talks about the Kingdom of God as being like a Man who finds a BURIED TREASURE or a merchant who finds the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. Today your job is to note this and Remember it well. The OPORTUNITY to be apart of the Kingdom of God Is such a priceless treasure that a WISEMAN will gladly GIVE ALL for a chance to seize it. It is a chance of a LIFETIME.
The message of these two parables is to show that KNOWING JESUS is of far greater value than anything earth provides. And that TOTAL INVESTMENT required is a characteristic of people who Recognize the value of being apart of God’s Kingdom.
7. I feel wise today, so here are some words for the wise:
PRAY to the Holy Spirit for Wisdom…it’s a gift from God to help us know which TREASURE is of value or which is worthless.
WORK to develop Wisdom…Life’s Experiences helps us to discern God’s Truth so we know which PEARL is authentic or fake.
OBSERVE others for Wisdom…Their experiences give you Practical Knowledge so we know which path to follow or avoid.
And oh yea, be sure to check your engine oil and tires for air.
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