Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34, Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58.
FIRST READING
In today’s First Reading, wisdom is being presented to us as a royal and beautiful woman who organises a great feast. She therefore sends all her maids to call her guests.
She says,
‘Come and eat my bread,
drink the wine I have prepared!
Leave your folly and you will live,
walk in the ways of perception.’
Who are the guests?
All who wish to possess wisdom; all who realize their need for wisdom and really desire to live wise, good, responsible and meaningful lives.
THE RESPONSORIAL PSALM
The Responsorial Psalm of today invites us to come and learn the wise way of life. The last stanza says whoever longs for life, whoever desires to live a meaningful life must:
I. Guard their tongues from evil and their lips should refrain from deceit.
II. They must turn aside from evil and do good.
III. And seek after peace.
THE SECOND READING
The Second Reading takes up this theme. St. Paul says,
Be very careful about the sort of lives you lead, like intelligent and not like senseless people…And do not be thoughtless but recognise what is the will of the Lord. Do not drug yourselves with wine, this is simply dissipation; (instead) be filled with the Spirit…
St. Paul is simply telling us here that there are two kinds of lives- the life of wisdom and the life of foolishness.
I will just share six points on the life of wisdom.
- A life of wisdom is living with the fear of God
Fear of God here means reverential awe of God proceeding from a place of love of Him and knowledge of His greatness and power.
It is characterised by intentionally refraining from anything that can provoke the wrath of God or cause Him displeasure. It is the awareness that God exists, He sees and He cares about what we do and that He is able to call us to question.
Today, dear friends, let us reflect on the life of wisdom that God is inviting us to live. What does it look like?
I will just share six points on the life of wisdom.
- A life of wisdom is living with the fear of God
Fear of God here means reverential awe of God proceeding from a place of love of Him and knowledge of His greatness and power.
It is characterised by intentionally refraining from anything that can provoke the wrath of God or cause Him displeasure. It is the awareness that God exists, He sees and He cares about what we do and that He is able to call us to question.
To dare God, to act as if He doesn’t exist, as if He is not interested in what we do or as if He can’t restrain us, is utter foolishness.
No wonder the wise one says, “To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding“ (Proverbs 9:10).
2. A life of wisdom is characterised by careful choices and sensible living based on the awareness that we shall one day render an account of how we live and the choices we make here on earth. It is living with the awareness of judgement and eternity in mind.
Romans 14:12: “so then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”
3. A life of wisdom consists in consciously avoiding what can ruin our integrity, our reputation and destiny.
The things some of us desire and pursue are the things that can bring us shame and regret in the long run.
Living wisely is desisting from desiring, pursuing or enjoying what can ruin our integrity. It consists in not taking unwise risks because of immediate pleasure. It is characterised by self-denial and discipline, a life of careful reflection and proper use of freedom.
When we live this way, we won’t have to blame our actions on the devil or beg for clemency when we should have avoided a disgraceful act.
- A life of wisdom is characterised by intentional kindness to people.
Being unkind and wicked to people is pure foolishness because in life, we shall reap what we sow. Anyone who oppresses others, or makes life miserable for them, is sowing thorns and thistles for future harvest. One who makes the lives of others miserable is plotting his or her own future misery. No condition is permanent – the powerful today may one day become the vulnerable and powerless and the vulnerable and powerless may one day assume greatness.
When we are intentionally kind and good to people, we are investing for a future of blessing and an eternity of joyful reward.
St. Paul tells us in Galatians 6:9, “let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
- A life of wisdom is reflected in how we appreciate and use the gifts that God has given us. Most prominent among these are the gifts of time (life), talents and even treasures (including wealth).
To waste time (a gift with eternal value), or to waste our talents and resources is a manifestation of foolishness. These are given to us to serve God and His kingdom, to better our lives and the lives of others, to seek heaven while making the world a better place.
- A life of wisdom is seen in our choice of friends and those we allow into our lives, those who influence and shape our character.
To those we allow to be “our influencers”, we automatically give permission to shape our destiny (read Proverbs 13:20).
THE GOSPEL
In today’s Gospel, Jesus, who is the wisdom of God made man, tells us that He is the Bread of Life which has come down from heaven… for anyone who eats Him, He will live in the person and the person will live in Him.
In the Eucharist, Jesus is present, body and blood, soul and divinity. It means in that bread is Jesus. When we eat the bread, Jesus comes to live in us, and in Jesus, we have all that we need, including Divine Wisdom, the perfection of virtues and graces and the pledge of eternal life with God.
Let us therefore prepare ourselves each time we approach the table of the Lord. Let us receive Jesus with reverence, devotion, faith and understanding and ask that He may free us from a life of ignorance and foolishness, that He flood our souls with His divine wisdom and cause us to live intelligent and sensible lives like He did.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on August 18, 2024