Gospel Reflections for July 26 2020
What do you wish for? …Choose wisely!
In today’s First Reading, God offers Solomon a choice …and he chooses wisdom over wealth.
What would you choose? Money is a practical resource in your wallet that you can use right away while wisdom simply offers deeper insights in your head.
Yet Solomon chooses wisdom. For that, he became famous throughout history for making the right choice. Why is that? What’s wrong with wanting cash?
I know people often dream of winning the lottery, but often forget that they are still the same person afterwards. The lottery changed their bank account but not their personality or their soul. Studies affirm that a surprisingly large number of lottery winners have later filed bankruptcy and faced economic ruin. They had received millions, but not the wisdom to use them wisely. People may gain a lot of money or nice things but not understand what they mean. That is where wisdom comes in.
Wisdom is very different from education or knowledge.
Education or knowledge is simply knowing a lot of things, while wisdom is knowing the right things and what is important in life …and to have everything in the right perspective.
I have met people who have never been to college but are extraordinarily wise, and I admire them greatly. I have also met college professors who are profoundly unhappy, and I feel sad for them.
The Gospel presents several people who discover valuable things and take the right steps needed to safeguard them. They are wise in doing so. Each item symbolizes the wisdom of our faith.
We need wisdom now to understand how best to go forward in this Covid-19 season. How best to open schools? How best to protect the elderly? How best to understand police and racial issues? This is the time for calm reflection and not jumping to conclusions.
Wisdom also calls us to assume the best intentions for people with whom we might disagree. Our continued relationship with loved ones is more important than winning a medical or political argument.
What is it that you most wish for? Will it really bring you happiness? I hope so. Our Lord only wants happiness for you as well, and offers the authentic path that is lasting and most satisfying.
Do everything you can to safeguard your faith, as the people did in today’s Gospel.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Fr. Dave,
Thanks for pointing out that true wisdom is what’s most needed – especially in today’s world!
I’ve sent the article to my entire email list and encouraged them to read it and send it on.
Larry,
Thank you! I hope they find it helpful.
Love wisdom, Love our precious Faith, love our loving God, love our precious Jesus, love our beautiful Blessed Mother, love the gift of precious prayer and love!!! Thank you for your love and prayers!! and most of all bringing the gift of our Jesus to us!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Thank you for your teachings
Best
John Mc
You are welcome!
Thank you, Fr. Dave, for inspiring us!
What are we looking for in life? We are all searching for something to make us
happy.We keep on searching, but are never satisfied. Even if all our wishes come
true we still long for something else, could it be to find Jesus, the greatest prize
of all.
Lord, help me to see Jesus!
You are on the right quest!
Your teaching was an excellent reminder of the fact that we need wisdom as to how to pray for our country also. How to vote for President and all the others running. We need a lot of prayer for our Church and the authorities. Not paying attention solely to what party we belong to but what does God say in these situations. When we received confirmation we were told were we to be soldiers of Christ. It is time to put on the whole Armour of God and get on our knees and pray. We are in a real battle now and we need to look to God alone for the answers.
Yes, we are in a battle and will always need prayer!
Dear Fr. Dave,
Your article is excellent, timely, and full of very helpful and wise insights.
Hope you are doing well during these challenging times.
God bless!
Jennifer
Thank you! All is well here. We have ll our ceremonies outdoors but we have a convenient covered area to make it easy.
Great blog! Do you have any helpful hints for aspiring writers?
I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m
totally confused .. Any recommendations? Kudos!
I am always happy to help. You have two questions here. One is about writing and the other about website design. Send me an email at daveheney@gmail.com and we can discuss in more detail.