28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, B Cycle, Year 2, October 15,2006

Scripture: Wisdom 7:7-11. Psalm 90:12-17, Hebrews 4:12-13, and Mark 10:17-30...

Wisdom is a gift of the Holy Spirit which we receive at our Baptism, but it takes a life of prayer and reception of the sacraments to develop this gift. Natural or practical wisdom does come through our aging and our life experiences, but the Scriptures are talking about the Wisdom that comes to us from God through the Holy Spirt and through the teaching and actions of Jesus. We are encouraged to follow him as disciples which is a daily exercise in wisdom. King Solomon prayed for this gift and it was given to him; gradually, through his losing his original faith in God and through his sensuality he lost the gift of wisdom, but during his life time the kingdom of Israel was not divided and he did many things in his early years as ruler that were truly wisdom inspired.

The Hebrew Scriptures put the Wisdom literature along with the Psalms in the third part of their division of the Bible which they call the Writings (Khutivim). It is here that the Wisdom of God shines through and is meant for our spiritual growth. Age does not bring it to us but prayer and cooperation with the Holy Spirit develops this gift within us. I am reminded of a quip one of our beloved and aging priest liked to say, "Oh, Brother, there is no fool like an old fool." He knew well that wisdom did not come just by being old. When we are filled with wisdom of the heart, there is no room for other thoughts, or distractions or a desire for riches. We simply want to be wise in the godly sense. This seems to be the continued development of the theme of wisdom for this Sunday's liturgy. The Psalm has this verse within it that expresses what this theme is all about: " Teach us, O Lord, to number our days aright that we may gain wisdom of heart."

In the Epistle to the Hebrews we learn that God's word, which is infinite in wisdom, pierces through our inmost being and reaches us where we think we can hide. But we cannot. And, then, if we accept that word into our hearts, we begin to be wise in the Wisdom of God which surpasses all human understanding and wisdom.

Mark tells us that Jesus loves the young man who is keeping the commandments, but he cannot follow Jesus because his heart is filled with his love of comfort and his desire to keep his riches. It is the only time someone really refuses to follow Jesus when given the invitation. And this is the only time that Jesus is said to love the young man who was keeping the commandments. Only by following Jesus in all simplicity and detachment are we able to understand the wisdom of God and if we pray for this wisdom then we can take up the call of discipleship with our hearts filled with wisdom. Amen.