Gospel Reflections for July 30 2017
What do you wish for? …Choose wisely!
In today’s First Reading, God offers Solomon either wealth …or wisdom.
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 soul. Studies have shown 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.
This weekend we will hear about missionaries who travel the world to bring the wisdom of Our Lord to people who most need to hear it. They offer the right kind of help that is most needed. Besides clean water, food, adequate shelter, and money, they provide the insights from Our Lord for true lasting happiness in families that come from knowing the faith He gave us.
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
Loved your interpretation Father Dave!!! Our precious God has given you the gift of a beautiful wisdom and a beautiful way on interpreting His love!!! Our loving faith is sooooooooooooooooooooooo precious to Dick and myself!! It is the soul, heart and center of our lives!!We fell in love for we both loved Jesus and our Faith so much!!!!!iFifty years of a beautiful life we shared in our marriage of love! Beautiful faith,beautiful family, beautiful friends and a beautiful life!!!iLove you being a beautiful part of it!!!Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the word beautiful!!! Hahahahaha!! It expresses our love!!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Dear Fr. Dave..thank you for your beautiful words, they meant so much to me. We appreciate our life together even though we don’t have a lot of money, We’ve been happy and blessed all these years with our love for each other and our wonderful family….it will be our 64th Anniversary in Oct. can’t believe how fast time has gone by !! I remember our 50th, like it was yesterday when you were there and renewed our vows. it was such a special day….thank you again…
We love our church and thank God every day for all the blessings he has given us.
Just wish you were still here, we miss you so much.
With love,
Marie and Hank Ceci
Yes, I remember your fiftieth at the Odyssey Restaurant in the valley. Your words here are very wise!
Dear Fr. Dave I thank you for sharing your wisdom God has given you with all of us.
It’s been a blessing to hear you daily on the radio and to have reconnected with you at St. Rose of Lima a couple years .
God first put you in my families life in 1979 when you Baptized me at St. Genevieve Parish and then you were the celebrant at my aunts nuptials as well as renewing my parents 10 year wedding vows in 1980.
We miss you at St. Rose please come visit Fr. Shea and all of us.
Oh and I was able to attend my first University Series course during Lent of 2017.
May God continue to bless you Fr. Dave!!!
Thank you! Yes, it was great to see you again after all those years from St. Genevieve, my first assignment. I will certainly be back in Simi Valley area for the University Series again this year. I always enjoy those sessions so much!
Like you said, Fr. Dave, we can have knowledge, but lack the wisdom to apply it!
To your question,”What is it that you most wish for.” I enjoy the good things the Lord has given me,
family, health, creation and good friends, but my greatest wish is to have Jesus as
my friend forever.
Thank you Fr. Dave for the wisdom you share with us!.
.
You have chosen wisely!
Solomon asked for a gift of the Holy Spirt and God gave him the sacrament of confirmation and all seven of the gifts of the Holy spirt.
He he did choose wisely.
God Bless
Indeed. Solomon chose well.
Thank you for your succinct and Wisdom filled commentary!
God Bless You, and Keep You.
…and God bless you as well!
When listening to today’s readings on line, I was also drawn to this scripture. I loved how you said it. It is a very convicting scripture and reminds us what is most important, especially to God. The love of money is a distraction. I love Mother Theresa as money was not her concern and the finer things in life were nil. In todays times, she set the example on what was important in her ministry and she was not tempted by gifts but her only thought was on reaching out to the poor. What a beautiful example.
Yes, there is no finer example than Mother Teresa!