23rd Sunday 2016

Wisdom 9:13-18; Philemon 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33

In verse 3 of Wisdom 9, the writer asks, “For who knows God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends?” In verse 17, he asks again but answers his own question. “Or who can know your counsel, unless you give Wisdom and send your holy spirit from on high?” The who is he or she who has been given Wisdom. However, the wisdom bestowed isn’t knowledge of the workings of the Universe, or mysteries explained. We seek enlightenment, yet do not always seek insight for wise matters. Verse 18 reads, “Thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and people learned what pleases you, and were saved by Wisdom.” The wisdom offered to us centers on what pleases the Lord. It is most wise to seek such wisdom.

The questions in these verses do not look for information; they are intended to form part of an act of praise (1). As a human race, curious and empowered, we focus on answers and solutions, understanding and knowledge; we forget that wisdom is not the answers to the questions, but the questions themselves.

In Paul’s letter to Philemon, he is asking a moral, ethical question. Commentaries suggest that Onesimus was Philemon’s runaway slave who was ‘useless’ or had somehow wronged Philemon. While away, he helped Paul in some way. Paul was moved and stated in his letter that he considers Onesimus a brother and hopes that Philemon will accept his return and receive him not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ as well (2).

Onesimus’ personality was transformed from useless to useful after he became a Christian. Paul is asking Philemon to not only be willing to accept the change, but to allow the relationship between them (Onesimus and Philemon) to be transformed as well. Chock full of good advice, the New Testament letters tend to share wisdom about building and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships within a community setting. However, this letter exemplifies how relationships between people, and not just the individuals in the relationship, can be transformed and reformed if founded upon Christ.

The first reading gives us a context for seeking wisdom. The purpose of wisdom is to discover what pleases the Lord. In the gospel passage, Jesus urges us to deliberate discipleship, to calculate the cost, and to discern our willingness to renounce people and possessions which tether us to the Earth. In other words, Jesus tells us plainly what pleases the Lord and shares the how-tos with us. The second reading, inspires us to trust that it pleases the Lord to transform our relationships, not just our own individual natures.

Resources:
1- The Collegeville Bible Commentary. The Order of St. Benedict, Inc., Collegeville, Minnesota.1992
2- The New Interpreter’s Bible: One Volume Commentary. Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN. 2010.

Journal Questions:

In what ways are you wise?
Explore an experience you had in which a relationship founded in Christ was transformed. Was there a specific moment of change, did someone intercede, or was it gradual and subtle?

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