+ Among the things that we need to pray for daily is spiritual (or divine) wisdom! It is a gift of the Holy Spirit – especially intensified at our Confirmations – but it needs to be "stirred into flame again," not only at every Mass we attend, but also every day in prayer. "To see things and understand them the way God does" – holy wisdom – is indeed a very important and useful gift. (And those who do not have or use the gift properly can end up with a distorted view of everything – for example, scientists who promulgate theories of the origins of the universe devoid of the presence and activity of God).
But as in any other gift God gives us – this one too is not for our own private use or fame or glory – but is rather for the good of others – those he has placed in community life with us, in the Church to which we belong. Therefore, to pray daily for an increase and rekindling of wisdom can only be a good thing so as to give us an insightful edge on the nature of things and how to get along with one another more compassionately, lovingly and self-sacrificially.
One of the insights, however, that wisdom gives is that, even though we live in the community of the world, and of our families, and of our Church – we are responsible first of all for our own salvation: "we can save the whole world," Jesus tells us in another place, "and lose our souls." The gospel passage today relates what Jesus thinks about the whole thing: UNLESS YOU RENOUNCE ABSOLUTELY ALL POSSESSIONS (including the material, the psychological, the emotional, the intellectual, the familial – relationships with people: including your own family) YOU CANNOT BE MY TRUE DISCIPLE AND YOU WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM prepared for you!
This is very clear, and seems very cold; but actually it is far from it. It is when one really and truly jumps entirely into the pool of Christian discipleship that everything is immediately given back – only they now seem entirely different; there are no more "claw marks" of grappling on them, there is no more excessive compulsion and need to control and manipulate, there is no more selfishness and self-centeredness. The true nature of things becomes very clear! And so, what is left is the ability
to enjoy not only relationships with people, including family and parish, but also the beauty and verity of all of God's creation and everything in it, and Christian service that is made now so much easier. And here, the playing field is also leveled – we look at everyone, of every socio-economic class as our true brother and sister – as St. Paul urged Philemon to do with the slave Onesimus in the second reading today. EVERYTHING IS BRAND NEW ONCE WE SURRENDER OURSELVES COMPLETELY INTO THE HEART OF GOD!
He will accept your love and then ask you to prove it by loving the brothers and sisters that he has placed with you in this world. But that will be easy – because you will truly believe at that point that they really are indeed your brothers and sisters!
Yes, pray daily for the gift of Divine Wisdom – for it is the grace of God shining on you so that you can see everything and everyone clearly – even the laws of physics, even the law of human helpfulness!
God bless you!
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