Saturday, July 29, 2023

THE HIDDEN WISDOM

Meditation for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
(1 kg 3:5, 7-12; Rm 8:28-30; Mt 13:44-52)

Wisdom and knowledge do not come cheap. The hidden wisdom of God is revealed only to those who humbly desire it as King Solomon did in the first reading. He priced wisdom above wealth and health, denied himself of all others to ask for divine wisdom. This action of Solomon is demonstrated in the parable of the hidden treasure. The man who found the hidden treasure, which is of the highest value, had to let go of other treasures of lesser value in order to acquire it. It is one thing to have KNOWLEDGE of what is of highest value, but it is WISDOM to act in the right way in order to possess it.

 

Let us meditate on how God, the source of wisdom, hid the ultimate treasure of the kingdom of heaven. He did not leave it in the open for causal eyes to see, but He hid it, such that it can only be found by those who are looking for it, and acquired by those who value it above all else. This wisdom of God indicates that everything that has value cannot be on the SURFACE, but must be sought for before it can be found. Think about how love, truth, beauty, goodness, etc, are not causally placed on the surface but hidden in the depths of the heart. They can only be found and possessed by those who know their value, who are ready to make sacrifices. Yes, in his joy, the man goes and sells all that he had and buys the field.

 

Human wisdom is foolishness in God’s eyes (1 Cor 3:19). The human mind would have considered Solomon foolish for not requesting for his personal wellbeing and safety first. Man considers amassing wealth as a means of dominance and control. But Solomon asked for divine wisdom in favor of his people. It would have been foolishness in the eyes of the world for a merchant to sell all he had in order to purchase one pearl of great value. The fear of loss; fear of losing relevant, dignity, pleasure, health, or life itself discourages us. This is because we calculate from a selfish safe angel! But the second reading urges us to calculate from a ‘divine angle’, where we are truly safe, and whatever ‘investment’ we make from there will not fail us, but must surely end to our favor. “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”

 

Therefore, being conformed to the image of Jesus, we stand on the authority our shared life with Him, “So that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God” (Eph 3:19). Jesus becomes the highest Treasure, the one Pearl that is of the greatest value. Though He came to dwell among us, He is still hidden from the eyes of the worldly minded, but is found by those who are sincerely searching for truth, and by those inspired by the Holy Spirit. The hidden wisdom of God is made available to us in Christ Jesus. Thus, we are truly wise when we come to know Jesus, and He becomes the reason for our lives and actions. “Because of the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, I count everything else as loss. For Him I have accepted the loss of all other things, and look on them all as filth if only I can gain Christ” (Phil 3:8). In this way, God will turn every situation to our advantage since we have been predestined and called to share in the life of Jesus; “And those whom He called he also justified; and those whom He justified He also glorified.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday July 30th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

   

  

No comments:

Post a Comment