Jesus is the wisdom of God

 

The hope of resurrection heals us of cares.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, 32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Year A, November 12th, 2023
Texts: Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 63:2-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 

Today we are challenged to show the evidence of the presence of Christ in us. Today’s first reading speaks of the wisdom of God. Jesus is the wisdom of God (1Cor. 1:24). We learn from the reading that he who loves Him discern His presence and finds Him if he seeks Him. If we desire Him He hastens to reveal Himself to us. In His desire to reveal Himself to us, He took flesh and dwelt among us. After He returned to the Father He commands us to preach the Gospel and remains with us in the spirit (Mtt. 28:20).  

We also learn the rewards of loving Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God. The rewards are perfect understanding and freedom from care. We read, “To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding, and he who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care”. Hence, in today’s second reading, St. Paul says, “We would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”  

Jesus Christ shows in His life that death is not our end

Freedom from care about the dead arises from the thought about Jesus Christ. This is clear in words of St. Paul: “For since we believe that  Jesus died and rose again, even so, through  Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” Fixing our thoughts on Jesus Christ, we have hope that the dead will rise again. Jesus Christ shows in His life that death is not our end; we shall defeat death with resurrection. The hope of resurrection heals us of cares.

Wisdom, Jesus Christ,  also manifests Himself in acts and ways of those who embrace Him. We read, “and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.” All we need to do is to seek Him, He is already looking for us to embrace us. We read, “she goes about seeking those worthy of her”. This is clear in today’s gospel reading as the five wise virgins took extra oil. If we have Jesus, it shows in our acts and ways.  

Who knows what the five foolish virgins focused on?

Wisdom helps to focus on what is important. The five wise virgins of Jesus’ parable focused on what is most important for their journey. Who knows what the five foolish virgins focused on? Perhaps, the clothe, bags, make-up and other ephemeral things. Lack Wisdom makes us prioritise the unimportant things and leave out the important. Wisdom reveals to us the important things and directs our minds to things. Some of us are Christians but the evidence we have for it is just the name, Christian. 

Prayer  

Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke