DECEMBER 2021
FRIDAY DAY 3
THAT WE MAY BE TRULY WISE
(Day five of 5-Day End-of-Year Fasting)
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:19
Many of us are valuing power, prestige, and possessions above everything and everyone else, with little or no thought for God and His desires for us, and this is indeed foolish. It is the content of our heart and our priority in life that show if we are truly wise or foolish.
(1) What kind of content, what kind of input, what kind of material are you receiving into your mind? Is it the sayings of the wise? (2) What do you truly treasure, what do you love and cherish most dearly in your heart? Is it God’s commandments? (3) What are you listening to most carefully? What are your ears truly paying attention to? What gets your attention? Is it wisdom? (4) How is your heart inclined? Toward what does it tilt? What does it gravitate to naturally? Does it understand? (5) What do you desire? Who do you seek? What are you really after in your life, what is your true quest, what do you consider to be your life’s goal or greatest good? What are you searching for more than anything else? Is it discernment, understanding and wisdom?
I f we want to be wise, if we wish to have understanding, and if we desire to be discerning, then we must fulfill the conditions for obtaining wisdom set forth in Proverbs 2: 1-4. Wisdom is not possessed accidentally or automatically. Rather, wisdom is possessed only when we choose it deliberately and pursue it passionately. The intense language of these verses points out the importance of desire, choice, effort, and discipline.
True wisdom consists of a reverent relationship with God. Through this relationship, God reveals to us the answers to the deepest human questions and provides solutions to the riddles of the universe. Ecclesiastes raises the ultimate question facing man: “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (1:3). Through wisdom the teacher realized that all earthly pursuit is “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!” (1:2). The wise realizes the things that truly matter: “the end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man” (12:13). The wise man knows he must resign himself to God, accepting what comes from God.
If we are truly wise, we would recognize that God created us for fellowship with Himself. We will grasp how God nurtures and equips those who believe through the ministries of the church by His Word and sacrament. In truth those who are truly wise prioritize holiness and seek first God’s kingdom.
MASS: WHITE FRANCIS XAVIER Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1,4,13-14(R.1a) Accl Behold, our Lord shall come with power, and enlighten the eyes of his servants; Gospel Mt. 9:27-31
Prayer Point:
1. Let us join Thomas Kempis in this beautiful prayer, “O Lord, grant that my heart may love only You, and make it experience how sweet and loveable You are. Make it realize that only by loving You will it find comfort, blessings and happiness in this life as well as in Heaven. In other words, O Jesus, grant that my soul may love You greatly now and for all eternity. Amen.”
Exercise: Study James 3:17
Meditation: Proverbs 2:10-11