Twenty-Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jan 30 2025

Seek Wisdom

The wisdom prayed for in the first reading is a gift from God. Perhaps the first question that confronts us today is whether we consider wisdom worth our energy and effort, or whether we are busy pursuing what are considered more “practical” objectives. Consider, however, that the wisdom of God has been described as knowledge of how to do things—in Solomon’s case, ruling wisely.

Scripture also connects the pursuit of wisdom with the pursuit of eternal life that the man is seeking in the Gospel. He has come to recognize that eternal life is the supreme value, and he wants to know what he must do to inherit it. Again, wisdom as doing. When Jesus points him toward keeping the commandments, he quickly responds that he’s been doing this “from my youth.”

He wins Jesus’ heart with this response, so Jesus invites him to join his disciples, to be part of a new family, leaving behind his property, possessions, and all that binds him to the past. All too much! He walks away sad. “Who can be saved?” asks Peter. “Impossible for humans, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Which brings us back to prayer. Ask for wisdom, the ability to do what is necessary, and more will be given than you can imagine.

God’s word is spoken of as living and effective, a two-edged sword that penetrates our heart, enables discernment, brings light, leads to right action. What does God’s word illuminate today?

Consider/Discuss

What do you seek? What do you ask for in prayer? Wisdom? Eternal life? Or . . . ?
Do you trust Jesus’ promise that one who chooses to be part of his family will receive a hundred times more even now?

Responding to the Word

God of wisdom and life, “teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Send us your Spirit of wisdom and understanding that we may know the difference between what the world holds up as riches and what is of true value in your sight.

Jan 30 2025

Scripture Study for

Wisdom is personified as a woman and she is praised as a priceless treasure beyond compare. The speaker is depicted as a king who prayed for wisdom that would enable him to rule judiciously. He proclaims that he prefers her to riches, to health, to beauty, to everything that women and men normally cherish. Of all the wonders that life has to offer, in his eyes Wisdom is the most precious treasure. In fact, in comparison with her, other riches are of little value. Though he has spurned riches, in the end he received them along with the wisdom he sought. The word of God is extolled in the Letter to the Hebrews for both its creative and its juridical force. It is living and effective, because it is the expression of the God who is living and effective. As performative speech, it accomplishes what it describes; as juridical speech, it passes judgment on what it discovers. God’s word is incisive and probing, sharper than a sword that cuts both ways. It can pierce the inner recesses of a person, cutting cleanly amid soul and spirit and body, and penetrating the most secret thoughts of the heart. God’s word has both a comprehensive and a profound effect; nothing can escape it. The initial exchange between Jesus and the rich man raises an important theological question: Can one gain eternal life, or is it a gift from God? The man’s question implies that he believes that he can do something to deserve eternal life. Jesus argues that it is a gift. However, a particular way of living is indeed called forth for those who desire eternal life. The man is not putting Jesus to the test; he has approached him with great respect. This is an honest and upright man, one who has been observant from his youth, but who realizes that there is still something missing in his life. Jesus recognizes his goodness, and he loves him.

Jan 28 2025

A Second Chance?

It is 36 A.D. A man sits at the table, and amuses himself with his coins. He likes the way they gleam in the morning sunshine when he pours them from one hand into the other. His wife came by just now. She burst in the door to tell him about all the healings that Jesus’ disciples are doing.

He remembers that day. He had answered the questions correctly. Jesus had looked at him with love. He had felt so good inside, so happy to be approved by the Master. Then the man had said, “Go, sell all you have, give to the poor and then come, follow me.” But he couldn’t. He just couldn’t. He is still heavy of heart about that.

When she raves about how wonderful the apostles are, Peter this, John that . . . over and over again . . . Could he have been one of the Twelve? He could be working miracles now. But no. He keeps flipping his coins, thinking.

Jesus’s eyes: that look of love still haunts him. Might there have been a second chance for him? If the man asked again, now, would he go? Not with the son of the carpenter—for they had killed him.

“I am a good man,” he objects. “Is it my fault that my father was wealthy, even holding property in Cyprus? I have followed the commandments all my life.” Is it impossible for a rich man to enter into heaven?

He hears that voice: “Follow me.” He sees that love in his eyes. The sun is going down. He stands. He calls his wife, “Come!” The apostles are talking about there being so many people, so many needs, and what are they to do? The man kneels down before them as he had once knelt before Jesus. He lays his bags of coins at their feet.

Peter recognizes him from that day, and rushes over. “Welcome home! Thank you! You have heartened us today!”

Consider/Discuss

If Jesus asked you to leave everything that you have right now, how would you respond? To what might you cling most closely? House or brother or sisters or mother or father or children or lands . . . What treasure gleams more brightly than Jesus?
Like today’s account, sometimes a Gospel story just seems to need a sequel. There are lots of biblical people we never hear from again. Whatever happened to the twelve-year-old girl whom Jesus raised? What about the little boy who brought Jesus the loaves and the fishes? What happened to Simon’s mother-in-law—what kind of life did she end up with? Let your imagination play with one of those secondary biblical characters. Or write your own story. Does Jesus give people a second chance? Or a third? Or a fourth?

Living and Praying with the Word

Lord, you have filled us with your love. You never stop calling us to follow you, to leave behind that which holds us back, to prefer you before all else. Help us to measure prosperity aright, for you prosper the work of our hands. Immerse us at daybreak with your kindness. Satisfy us at sunset with your peace. We give this day to you.

Jan 28 2025

Scripture Study for

Biblical wisdom literature regularly affirms that wisdom, often personified as a woman, is a greater treasure than anything else because wisdom gives insight into the ways of God. Those who prize wisdom and seek to live according to her teachings are assured of living in accordance with God’s will, which naturally leads to happiness. The traditional author of Wisdom, Solomon, is the representative par excellence of the person who prizes wisdom above all earthly wealth. Wisdom is more beautiful, splendid, and enriching than any other of God’s creations because she is “a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty . . . the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness” (7:25, 26). Nothing brings humans closer to God than wisdom.

The section of Hebrews between last week’s and this week’s readings (3:1 — 4:11) contains an exhortation to remain faithful, learning from the experience of Israel, whose infidelity in the wilderness led an entire generation to be denied entry into the Promised Land, or their “rest.” Thus those who would follow Christ into their “sabbath rest” must remain faithful. The author has drawn on several passages from scripture (in which we hear “the word of God”) to make this point, and now affirms that this same “word of God,” identified implicitly as Jesus, brings either salvation or judgment, depending on one’s response. This word of God, which cannot be deceived, sees further within us than we are able to see ourselves.

At first glance Jesus’ correction of the man who calls him “good” seems like a needless quibble, but its point soon becomes clear. The man has kept the commandments from his youth, so why ask Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life? What more might there be to do? Perhaps he assumes that he actually lacks nothing, that he himself is “good.” Jesus’ correction then appears to be a lesson in humility. The man reveals that he is not able to truly follow Jesus because he clings not only to his possessions, but perhaps also to a sense of his own “goodness.”

Jan 16 2025

Come to the Table Worthily

A newspaper columnist expressed his chagrin at friends not responding to his “e-vites” (e-mail invitations), even after repeated requests. He speculated that some might have held off responding in case “something better” came along.

Jesus tells a tale of invited guests refusing to come to a wedding feast for a king’s son. This parable is aimed once again at the religious leaders, confronting them with their refusal to accept him as one sent by God. Matthew’s violent version of the parable differs from Luke’s peaceful one (14:16–24), since it reflects the destruction of Jerusalem that happened decades later. But it reminded both communities that the invitation to the kingdom of God could be refused.

Matthew also includes the expulsion of a man who comes in without a wedding garment. This seems seem a little strange since people had been called in off the streets. It serves as a reminder that showing up is not enough. The grace of being invited to the Lord’s table, then as now, does not excuse us from wearing the appropriate garment—that is, “putting on” Christ.

Every Eucharist tells us that we have a place at the table, and this table prepares us for another table at the end of time, when all peoples will gather and the Lord will move among us, wiping every tear away, and death shall be no more. We are a people of many tables—of the word, the Eucharist, the world, and the kingdom of God.

Consider/Discuss

Do you see yourself as one who has been invited to have a place at many tables?
What does “putting on Christ” mean to you?
How do you think about the end time when all will gather?

Responding to the Word

We pray to respond wholeheartedly to God’s invitation to that final gathering place where rich food and choice wines will be served and our shepherd God, who even now spreads a table before us, will move among us. We can ask the Spirit to help us wear Christ well.