The Wisdom of God and the Wisdom of the World

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday, 22nd Week in Ordinary Time Year II, and the Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, September 3rd, 2020

Texts: 1Cor. 3:18-23; Ps. 24:1-6; Luke 5:1-11

Leaving something to follow Jesus Christ is the lesson we are to learn today. Paul, in the first reading, speaks of the need to forgo wisdom of this age and become fool. He says, "If anyone thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become fool that he may become wise". Anyone who wants to be a Christian must be ready to be called unwise. To the people of this world Christians are fools. For instance, how can one explain the attitude of Peter, in the gospel reading: he left everything to follow a poor man. Imagine such a great shoal of fish they left behind! What a great wealth they forsook! To some, only a fool embraces celibate life . To them, priests are nothing but fools. As Christians we might have felt that people would take us for fools because we acted humbly or bore wrong patiently. If we truly live Christian life, taking us for fools by the people of this world will be a common experience. 

The people of the world might take us for fools, but we are wise in the sight of God. We are fools to people of this world because we have chosen the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is the path of salvation while the wisdom of this world leads to futility. 

Following Jesus Christ is the path of salvation. Peter left everything to follow Jesus Christ, he chose the wisdom of God over the wisdom of this world. The world of this world gives disposition towards material things while the wisdom of God gives disposition towards God. Peter recognised the failure and futility in the wisdom of the world after after toiling all night and cut nothing. He puts thus: "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!". He realized the power in God's wisdom when he followed Jesus' word to put out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch.  We can now see how true the quote of Paul is, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise are futile". He adds thus: "So let no one boast of men". We labour but the blessing of God gives the harvest, a great one as such. Peter left everything for a greater good; he embraced the source, Jesus Christ. The wisdom of this world leads us to the tributary while the wisdom of God leads us to the source.

Today is the memorial of St. Gregory the great who was a successor of St. Peter. Just like  St. Peter, he left everything to follow Jesus. He left a prestigious position, perfect of his City, gave everything he had to the poor and entered a monastery. He became a deacon and was later elected Pope. The wisdom of God pays while the wisdom of this world yields futility.

God our Father,  leads us to recognise the futility in the wisdom of this world so as to embrace the wisdom from you. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke