Time to Seek Wisdom and Hunger for Righteousness

 

Jesus Christ is the wisdom and the righteousness of God.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, Nov. 17th, 2024

Texts: Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16: 5,8-15; Hebrews 10:11-14.18; Mark 13:24-32

We are in a time to seek wisdom and hunger for righteousness. Why? Because this is the end time. It is the end time not because the world is coming to an end tomorrow or before we die. No one knows the time the world will come to an end and there will be no more time again. It is end time because we now await judgement, no longer a Saviour; we now await the events of the end time: death, judgement, resurrection,  heaven and hell.

Jesus Christ said to the people of His time thus: “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” The generation here is not be taken to mean the people of His time but the features that marked the age. 

The generation has not passed away

The features that marked the age shall continue in an unusual manner. In the prophetic words of Daniel: “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time”. Jesus Christ confirms it thus: "In those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”

Our age bears witness to it that the generation has not passed away. We always expect that things will get better but always getting worse. Insecurity is getting worse by the day. We just heard of emergence of new terrorist group when we are not done with the ones we are fighting. Our economy never get better but worse.

Our moral life is also getting worse. People now want to live the life our first parents were ashamed of in their time. They were ashamed of their nakedness but people want to be naked this day. Those who have no responsibility and are cared for are the ones looking for money now. Most of those perpetrating evil are now teenagers. The future of our generation is darker than ever before. 

It is time to cry to the Lord

We are surely living in end time. It is time to cry to the Lord thus: “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” Those whom God preserve are those who seek wisdom and hunger for righteousness. They are the ones who take refuge in God. This is clear in the prophetic words of Daniel: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

It is in Jesus Christ we are righteous and wise

Jesus Christ is the wisdom and the righteousness of God. St. Paul says, “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1Cor. 1:30). 

Today’s second reading reminds us that it is in Jesus Christ we are righteous. We find righteousness when we turn to Jesus Christ. We read, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

Prayer

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to you, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all that is good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. (Amen)

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke