Seventeenth Sunday - Ord 2005

 1.      A little boy and his mother went shopping.  After picking up her grocery needs and paying up her bills they were about to leave when the storekeeper told the little boy to help himself to some candy in the jar.  The boy hesitated and then shook his head in refusal. Once again the storekeeper tried to coax the little boy saying "Lad, you don't have to pay for the candy, go on, help yourself".  But he got the same response.  So he then thrust his big fist into the jar and drew it out full of candy. The little boy was beaming now and cupped his two little hands together to gratefully receive the colourful candy that tumbled out of the storekeeper's big hand.  As they left the store, Mother nudged the little boy and asked him why he had refused the goodies in the first place. With a twinkle in his eyes, the little boy replied, "His hands are much larger than  mine".    Ah, the WISDOM of little ones.

2.       God said to Solomon, “Ask what I should give you”
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If we were faced with that offer from God, I wonder what our request would be ! We probably would ask for women of our immediate needs.

-       let me pay off my mortgage

-       for a car that will not break down, especially in winter.

-       for a cure for my relative’s cancer, Alzheimer, arthritis...

-       for a job whereby I can feed, clothe, house my family

-       for an understanding of my teenager.

3.       God said to Solomon, “Ask what I should give you” And Solomon replied, “give your servant an understanding mind.” When Solomon asked for Wisdom, it was not the knowledge you get after doing a Ph.D, an MBA or MSc. Solomon was already a good judge, an able administrator, he had political smarts, and he was a fierce warrior.  What he sought now was a Wisdom of a different type - a Wisdom that would help in dealing with people.

4.       Fr. Larry Gillick narrates the story of a Coach of a Ball Team. This coach wanted a WIN more than anything. You might say isn’t that what every coach wants? A WIN.  But for this coach, the WIN stood for “What’s Important Now.” This involved two things. First and obviously, knowing the Strengths of your own team and the Weakness of the rivals. But the second and more important: “What’s Important Now ” was what was the best for each individual on that team. Sometimes it was better to loose a game, if it helped a player to realise where his talent lay and be aware of his weakness. It gave confidence to the player and cohesion to the Team. This is the type of Wisdom that God asked of Solomon when God said to him, “Ask what should I give you.”

5.       In our second reading, St. Paul explains this same Wisdom in a different way. For the last four Sundays we have had readings from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. He speaks of a Wisdom even though he does not use the word, as a Maturity, a Balance in handling the cards dealt to us in the “Game of Life.”

          Paul starts out with

a. making us aware of our weaknesses and comforting us with the knowledge that the Spirit helps us through this world of sin.

b. then, Paul reminds us that there is suffering (the wages of sin is death) but this suffering is nothing compared with the life to come. So we hold on to hope.

c. the whole of creation is waiting to reach perfection. We like creation are groaning and in labour until this perfection is achieved through the Holy Spirit.

d. But the final assurance is that God has already predestined us. Because of this God has also called us, justified us and glorified us.

This Wisdom, this Knowledge, this Blessed Assurance allows us to journey on our pilgrim way through the Valley of Tears. Like Solomon, who could ask for anything more.

6.       Finally in the Gospel, we realise that WIN, “what’s important now” is the Pearl of great Price. Are we willing to put everything on the line, for what is really important or are we going to hedge our bets. Like Solomon we want an understanding heart, but we would also like our mortgages to be paid, a car that will not break down, a relative to be cured, a job that is secure.

          At this stage,  our Challenge from Paul is to trust in the Spirit

who will bring all things to completion,

who will give utterance to our prayers when we do not find words

who gives us the power to call God - “Abba - Father” -

a Father who provides us with daily bread.

All we have to do is cup our hands, because the Father’s hand is much bigger than ours !

Managing from the Heart

Hear and understand me.

Even if you disagree, please don't make me wrong.

Acknowledge the greatness within me.

Remember to look for my loving intentions.

Tell me the truth with compassion.