Twenty Third Sunday September 9, 2007

Wisdom 9:13-18 Psalm: 90 Philemon 9-17 Luke 14 : 25-33

Create in me a wise heart.

The book of Wisdom, scholars tell us was probably written in Alexandria, by a Jewish thinker inspired by the Scriptures and Greek Philosophy. It is not accepted in the Hebrew Canon of Holy Scriptures. It is accepted in our Catholic Scriptures and it describes the great Mystery of God in contrast to our human weakness. In our response we say that in every age God has been our refuge, this Mystery who is all sufficient has chosen to be a part of our history, come to our aid - and hence we can think of this Mystery of God as Love that is compassionate and caring.

In our responsorial Psalm, we ask the Lord to teach us so that we may have a Wise Heart. This seems to echo the prayer of Solomon who did not ask for Victory over his enemies, nor an abundance of riches. Solomon asked for a wise and discerning heart. Hence a Wise heart is not the one who knows all the possible answers in Jeopardy or How to be a millionaire. Rather a wise Heart is

the one is has the ability to discern

the one is has the ability to act maturely

the one is has the ability to control one’s desires

the one is has the ability to know what we really need

the one is has the ability to be satisfied with what we have

the one is has the ability to be ambitious for higher not more things.

The Letter to Philemon is just one chapter and could be read in five minutes. But we have only the high lights of the Letter. Paul is writing from Prison. It was often thought to be from Rome, but it is more likely when he was imprisoned in Ephesus (in present day: Turkey). It is a short distance for a runaway slave: Onesimus. His master: Philemon was in present day Northern Turkey. Paul’s letter is a gem. Paul is pleading in his cause, yet respectful of Philemon’s choice to say Yes or No, and Paul is affectionate. Today he would probably have texted his message ending it with the l.o.l abbreviated traditional closing.

Although he does not mention it, his letter is asking Philemon to have a wise heart according to our responsorial psalm. The Wise Heart will allow Philemon not only to pardon the runaway slave, Onesimus, but go the extra mile and accept him as a Brother in the Lord.

We reach our Gospel, hopefully with a Wise Heart, but there is still a choice to be made. Jesus gives us two stories: one of Building a Tower, the second is raising an army on the way to War. Do we have the Time, Talent and Treasure to succeed in this undertaking. However, in the following Jesus, he will provide us with this - we have to make the choice. If our family and possessions come in the way of answering the Invitation to follow Jesus, will we have the courage and heart to let go of them in the Call of Jesus.

Interestingly, St. Ignatius of Loyola in the Spiritual Exercises puts this choice at the Cross roads, before we can continue to make the whole Exercises. He tells us that Family, Possessions and all else are neither good nor bad. They are there as a part and parcel of our Journey to God. We have to look at them through a special filter. Are these for God’s greater Glory ! If they are we can walk with them. Our family and friends are there to encourage us, give us new heart and strengthen us when we are weak. However, if they distract us in our Calling to follow Jesus, then we have to keep our mind and heart focussed on the Lord. In the same way, we deal with our Possessions. Do we own them and use them or do they possess us. In a word, are they OUR possessions or are we POSSSESSED by them.

This Wise Heart gives us a new perspective in how we deal with people, how we deal with those in our parish community. It makes us take another look at people we would normally walk by and not give a second glance. It makes us look with love at “uninteresting people”. It makes us see people who do not have a charm or a smile that would qualify them to be model for selling Crest Toothpaste - through the prism of the Mystery that is there to be our refuge.

This Wise Heart will give me the strength to sally forth from my comfort Zone, from Mother and Father, brother and sister who are supporting and strengthening. It gives me the freedom and joy that was experience by Philemon as he forgave and by Onesimus as he was set free.

I think : as Bishop Benedict Singh the former Bishop of Georgetown would often say, “this would Gladden the heart of God!”