A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 46)
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – October 12, 2003
“A Wisdom That Chooses Christ”
A wise and holy hermit finds a precious stone beside the brook. He brings it with him to his little cottage. One of his disciples sees the precious discovery and begins to covet it. The hermit notices that the young disciple is looking dismal and miserable day by day. “What is it?” he asks the young man. “It is the stone,” the disciple replies. “I want to have it. I will never have peace and happiness until it is mine.” The good master remarks serenely, “But, of course, you can have it.” The disciple takes the stone. The next morning he is back. “What is it?” the hermit asks. The disciple holds up the precious stone and says, “I want the wisdom that made you renounce this precious stone so unselfishly.”
The disciple’s “awakening” consists in discovering the need for wisdom. Every person’s authentic desire for true wisdom is best expressed in today’s first reading (Wis 7:7-11). Wisdom, which is the knowledge of God and perceptive insight into human life, is preferred to scepter and throne and is esteemed above all other gifts and riches. Wisdom directs our quest toward eternal life, the only goal worth striving for. The truly wise person is able to discern the unsurpassable value of the love of God and chooses to put God above everything else.
The full meaning of wisdom can be gleaned in the light of Jesus Christ who is divine Wisdom personified. Someone has even paraphrased today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom in this way: “I preferred Christ to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with him, nor did I liken any priceless gem to him. Because all gold, in view of him, is a little sand, and before him silver is to be accounted as mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved Jesus Christ. And I chose to have him rather than light, because the splendor of him never yields to sleep. Yet all good things came to me in Christ and countless riches in his hands.”
Against this backdrop, the story of the rich man in pursuit of eternal life in today’s Gospel (Mk 10:17-30) acquires a deeper perspective. The man has responded to the demands of the commandments. For one who lived under the Old Covenant, such a response would have been sufficient. And, indeed, Jesus looks at him and loves him. But Jesus, the absolute treasure and font of all good, goes further. The incarnate Wisdom offers a new challenge and demands a greater response.
The challenge is absolute discipleship, the following of Christ who is the absolute good. Christian discipleship involves renunciation of human assurances and security. Jesus is the true wealth besides which everything pales in comparison. To follow Jesus is to pursue and make a radical choice for absolute good. Jesus is inviting the man to make a fundamental option for the incomparable wealth of his person.
The enormity of the challenge is expressed in the Semitic hyperbole of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. It is a choice of a loving and discerning heart. It is a choice made possible by the grace of God: “with God all things are possible” (Mk 10:30). The true option for Christ, the “treasure of all treasures” is guided by the wisdom of heart. This radical challenge is addressed to us all.
Do we yearn for the gift of wisdom? Do we beg the Lord to give us this precious gift?
How do we respond to Christ’s radical challenge to make a fundamental option for his person?
Do we believe in Christ’s exhortation: “With God all things are possible” (Mk 10:30)?
(Adapted from Wis 9:1-6, 9-11 and antiphon 2, Saturday Morning Prayer, Week 3 – Liturgy of the Hours)
Leader: God of my fathers, Lord of mercy, you who have made all things by your word and in your wisdom have established man to rule the creatures produced by you to govern the world in holiness and justice, and to render judgment in integrity of heart:
Assembly: Give me Wisdom, the attendant at your throne, and reject me not from among your children; for I am your servant, the son of your handmaid, a man weak and short-lived and lacking in comprehension of judgment and of laws.
Leader: Indeed, though one be perfect among the sons of men, if Wisdom who comes from you, be not with him, he shall be held in no esteem. Now with you is Wisdom, who knows your works and was present when you made the world; who understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what is conformable with your commands.
Assembly: Send her forth from your holy heavens and from your glorious throne dispatch her that she may be with me and work with me, that I may know what is your pleasure.
Leader: For she knows and understands all things, and will guide me discreetly in my affairs and safeguard me by her glory.
Assembly: Wisdom of God, be with me, always at work in me.
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Mk 10:21).
ACTION PLAN: Pray for the gift of wisdom that will enable you to make a fundamental choice for Christ and follow him all the way.
ACTION PLAN: Take stock of your material possessions. Make a radical decision to share your material resources with the needy and to give to the poor.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM