This week’s first reading comes from the book of Wisdom. This book is generally not found in non- Catholic bibles, but is part of our Canon of scripture and was used at the time of Christ. Here the author reminds us that this world alone cannot provide us perfect wisdom. If we are living by a worldly wisdom we are living by a defective wisdom. This should help give us a sense of humility before God and desire to gain Divine Wisdom. The exploration of Divine Wisdom in this book serves as a preparation for the teachings of Christ who is Wisdom incarnate
Our responsorial Psalm 90, starts out reminding us again that our time on earth is very limited and asks God for mercy and wisdom while we are here. Life is short and eternity is long. A wise person lives their life with an eternal perspective.
The Second Reading comes from the book of Philemon, one of the shortest books in the Bible – but a very interesting one. This epistle is essentially a personal letter from Saint Paul sent to Christian Convert named Philemon, written while Paul was in prison in Rome. Philemon was a slave owner during a time in history in which slavery was common. It just so happens that this slave, named Onesimus, had run away from his master and eventually became a Christian convert under Paul’s mentoring. Paul’s letter is a moving request to Philemon that he allow his slave to return, but to be no longer a slave, but a free man — another brother in Christ. This writing gives voice to an idea revolutionary at the time, that in Christ, we are all brothers
In our reading from the Gospel of Luke Jesus shocks us as he puts the true cost of discipleship out in the open and does not hide it in the fine print. When Jesus says you must “hate” your father and your mother, he is not telling us to disregard the commandment to honor our father and mother… rather he is using exaggeration which was a common Hebrew rhetorical style to emphasize a point… that not even family should come before God. But he also makes clear that following him is not really following him unless it involves sacrifice. This probably wasn’t a very popular message back then, and is certainly not a popular message today in our consumer culture. But without any concern for the popularity of his message he informs any of us who would be His disciples that his sovereignty must extend to everything in our lives. Any people, places, things, desires, or comforts that would come before Christ or pull us away from Christ must be discarded, even if it means giving up everything. Detaching ourselves from some of the things we love might feel like a kind of death. This is challenging, difficult, and demanding. The Gospel today urges us consider the cost carefully and to commit ourselves completely.
