Wis 9: 13-18
“For who can learn the counsel of God? Or who can discern what the Lord wills? For the reasoning of mortals is worthless, and our designs are likely to fail; for a perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind. We can hardly guess at what is on earth, and what is at hand we find with labor; but who has traced out what is in the heavens? Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and people were taught what pleases you, and were saved by wisdom.”
For people who reason in a merely natural way, the ways of God are practically incomprehensible. The Apostle Paul tells us that “those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them” (1 Cor 2:14). It is good for us to keep this in mind because we tend to place too much importance on our limited understanding, which can be tempting.
It’s different when the Holy Spirit reveals something to us through the gifts of knowledge or wisdom. Knowledge that comes directly from God and is inspired by the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord. Indeed, the gift of wisdom is referred to as “tasty knowledge.” Its delight comes from divine love, which is present in direct knowledge of God. A merely natural and rational knowledge, on the other hand, does not necessarily possess such qualities. For example, one may use understanding without acknowledging God as the giver of this gift or thanking Him.
Including the message of the Gospel in our meditation today we will see that Jesus teaches us great wisdom: the consistent application of the first commandment, which says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deut 6:5). At first, the Lord’s words may sound strong. However, we must confront ourselves with the Word of God, not accommodating it until it fits our own ideas and desires. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26–27).
Therefore, anyone who wants to be a true disciple of the Lord must leave everything behind, surrender himself unreservedly to the will of God, and renounce all his possessions. The latter does not necessarily refer to material possessions, but rather to renouncing to design our life according to our own conceptions, illusions and desires. It also means accepting the cross as it presents itself in our life according to God’s wisdom. This may mean setting aside even the closest relationships in order to follow the Lord.
God’s wisdom teaches us not to regard this as an unreasonable and harsh demand that would deprive us of all joy in life but as a special invitation of love that enables us to live in God’s presence. The reward for answering this call is the Lord Himself, a deeper relationship with Him, and the ability to serve others more freely.
Thus, the Lord’s invitation becomes “tasty wisdom” when we understand it from the perspective of love.
Letting go of everything that used to come first, for the sake of a greater love, is a big step that requires our free collaboration. If we still find it difficult to give, even though we desire to follow the Lord without reservation, then we must set out, with God’s grace, to acquire this unconditionality and ask for it in prayer.
In today’s Gospel, the Lord gives us examples that speak to our understanding. This leads us to examine ourselves: Am I truly willing to follow the Lord as He intends, or do I continue to set conditions? For example, if I am discerning whether God is calling me to a radical religious life of obedience, poverty, and chastity, I cannot make demands that correspond to a different lifestyle, such as a large single room, hot water, a big-screen TV, a coffee maker, and daily banquets…
The decision to follow the Lord entirely requires discernment and deep reflection, even if it arises as a spontaneous invitation when we feel touched by love.
However, we should not be discouraged when we realize that although we want to follow the Lord, we do not yet belong to Him completely because we remain attached to our life and the things of this world. Let us ask Him every day to grow this love within us and grant us the strength to take the steps that will lead us to the freedom to fully correspond to God’s love. In the meantime, let us offer Him what we are already able to give.
There is nothing more valuable or fulfilling than serving the Lord with total dedication in this life. If we ask Him sincerely, He will listen to us. If we turn to the Virgin Mary with this intention, we will have a wonderful example to follow in her and a mother who will help us take the steps of faith and trust that she took. Let us internalize the beautiful words Mary exclaimed in the Magnificat, revealing her understanding of God’s extraordinary ways: “for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Lk 1:49). This is truly recognizing God’s wisdom!
NOTE: Since today is the 7th day of the month, which we always dedicate in a special way to our Heavenly Father, we want to invite you to listen to the “3 minutes for Abba”, which is a small impulse that we publish daily in order to deepen the relationship of trust with God the Father. You can find them in the following links:
-Telegram: https://t.me/threeminutesforAbba
-Webpage: http://en.elijamission.net/category/3-minutes-for-god-the-father/
