Wisdom 7:22-8:1
Luke 17:20-25
The Church celebrates today the lives of two saints, St. Gertrude the Great and St. Margaret of Scotland. St. Margaret was known as the “pearl of Scotland” due to her tremendous impact on the country. In her wisdom, she performed works of charity for the poor and the uneducated. St Gertrude rigorously studied Scripture and liturgy to draw wisdom and to be closer to her God in prayer.
In today’s first reading, we continue to see the attributes of wisdom. Through Divine Wisdom, we become holy souls, friends, and prophets. Through wisdom, we gain natural intelligence. Things are quite clear with wisdom and it projects beyond the natural human life.
In today’s Gospel, the Lord tells us that the kingdom of God is among us. Living a good life involves sacrifices, agony, and pain. It involves being persecuted for doing the right thing. To be opposed to the world’s negative trends.
The attractions of this material world constantly present itself as the access to our happiness. We pursue it even at the cost of our honor and dignity and after we catch up with it we find out that happiness does not reside there. We end up still looking for that fleeting joy and satisfaction in life. True wisdom, joy, and peace of mind can only be found in God. What are you willing to give up to become God’s friend?
FR Joseph Osho
