Oct 13: The Punch Line

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time  

The first reading is supposed to remind us of Solomon, who, when God promised to give him whatever he asked, chose wisdom over wealth or power. Now our modern view of wisdom is usually pictured as the knowledge and experience of an older person. In the scriptures it is God’s Wisdom that is desired. More than just the wise sayings of a Benjamin Franklin or Yoda, scriptural wisdom means doing God’s will in all things. As Jesus tried to tell the man in the gospel, knowing and doing God’s will is more precious than wealth, or even family!

So if wisdom is that good, why do so few seek it? Most of us have no problem doing God’s will, as long as it is the same as ours. Or we do God’s will if it is painless and convenient. I once donated money to a charity by sending a text message. I don’t know if I would have done it if I had to write a check and mail it. Sometimes we are like that man in the gospel, desiring wisdom but not willing to pay for it.

Maybe our problem is that we don’t trust God enough. The first reading, after praising wisdom more than health, wealth, and beauty, ends with a promise of “countless riches” while Jesus promises that the one who gives up everything will receive “a hundred times more.” Because the rich man left in sorrow, he missed the punch line. 

I can think of two ways to interpret that promise. One is that the more we give up for love of the Lord, the more we get back. When someone gives up selfishness and begins to love, he then becomes capable of receiving love. Which leads to the second meaning of the promise: When we let God change us by giving up our worldly attachments, we find that we are happier because we experience God’s love for us more deeply. So Wisdom is the way to happiness: We outgrow our desire for things that make us feel good and appreciate the joy of accepting God’s love and sharing it with others.

Tom Schmidt