Homily:August 18, 2024, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Wisdom)

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 “Let whoever is simple turn in here; To the one who lacks understanding, she says, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!”

This generous invitation in today’s first reading is from Lady Wisdom. This reading is taken from Chapter 9 of the Book of Proverbs which portrays two women: Lady Wisdom and Dame Folly. Our first reading presents only the invitation of Lady Wisdom. She invites us, ‘whoever is simple’, to her home to enjoy the real good life, one of understanding and food good for our body and soul, while Dame Folly attracts people to destruction.

Many people seek wisdom, sometimes for unwise reasons, often in the wrong places, and in the wrong ways. Wisdom is unlike knowledge and intellect, it is not something we can gain through studying or hard work, it does not come automatically with age or experience; it is ultimately a gift from the Holy Spirit. In Proverbs 2:6, it says ‘For the Lord gives wisdom…”

I am very blessed to have met many wise people who in their generosity also have helped me a lot. I am often inspired by their gift and wish I too could be gifted the same. 

Lady Wisdom invites ‘whoever is simple’, because Proverbs 11:2 explains, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Pride occupies a person full of self-righteousness, leaving no more room for God’s gift. So, keep humble, stay simple and pray for the gift of wisdom, which will help us discern right from wrong, good from evil, truth from lies. Essentially, it helps us discern what is from God and what is not.

Lady Wisdom continues with the invitation to “Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!”

This passage points us to the Holy Eucharist. It is the simple-hearted person, without pride, who gifted with spiritual wisdom, who will be able to fully partake in the real food and true drink that leads to eternal life.

For the past four Sundays, we have been reflecting on the Eucharistic discourse of Jesus, which He delivered after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. It was a teaching which was very hard to accept for the Jews in that time. They could not understand, they could not agree, even after seeing the miracle and eating the bread multiplied, they could not believe Jesus because they were not convinced of the possibility. Their intellectual arrogance prevented them from accepting this truth. Some were humble and wise to be able to accept, thus there was a division and a quarrel among them.

Even today, many cannot accept the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist because it cannot be explained by science. Thus, they keep away from the Lord, in pridefulness and self-righteousness. But millions of people who are simple and humble to accept this truth, are wise and blessed to be nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ.

Let today’s readings remind us that to be simple and humble, to believe and accept the truth of Jesus, is wisdom. With such wisdom can we then enjoy the Lord’s banquet of real food and real drink. God is inviting you today to “come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!”

Amen.


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