We are invited to reflect on the nature of wisdom and righteousness.
On the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the passages in the Book of Wisdom
and the Letter of St. James challenge us to examine our motivations and call us
to embrace a divine wisdom that transcends human ambition and conflict.
The first reading from the Book of Wisdom presents the plight of a just
person who strives to live according to God’s ways and finds himself beset by the
wicked. Because the just one’s actions challenge the status quo, he is described
as ‘obnoxious’ to those entrenched in their ways. This confrontation is a profound
spiritual struggle between righteousness and wickedness. The just person is a
mirror reflecting the truth, which can be intolerable for those who live in darkness.
In the second reading, St. James provides a counterpoint to this struggle by
delineating the characteristics of true wisdom. While earthly wisdom is marked by
jealousy and selfish ambition, divine wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, full of
mercy, and bears good fruits. He emphasizes that where jealousy and selfish
ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice; hence, the internal and
external conflicts which arise within communities and individuals.
St. James describes the wisdom from above as a transformative force that
can guide our daily interactions. When we align ourselves with this divine
wisdom, we reflect its qualities in our dealings with others. Our lives then become
a testament to the peace that surpasses understanding, a peace rooted in mercy
and sincerity. This transformation is not just personal but communal. As we
embody this wisdom, we become part of a larger purpose, agents of God’s
peace in the world, connected through our shared commitment.
These readings also invite us to consider the nature of true righteousness
and the cost it may entail. The just person who lives according to God’s ways
may face opposition and persecution. However, it is precisely in this challenge
that the authenticity of our faith is tested and refined. The wisdom from above
empowers us to endure such trials with grace, maintaining our integrity and
commitment to God’s truth.
Dear brothers and sisters, the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time is not just a
time for passive listening but an invitation to actively reflect. The readings
challenge us to embrace a divine wisdom that is pure and peaceable, leading us
to become beacons of God’s enduring peace in a world often marked by division
and strife. By listening to God’s voice and embodying His wisdom, we open
ourselves to His blessings and become instruments of His transformative love.
Let us accept this invitation and reflect on the nature of wisdom and
righteousness and how we can embody these traits in our lives.Fr. Dominic Toan Tran, Pastor