Sunday Reflections

It is the beginning of a new school year in Canada; a time to get back to routines, back to friends, and back to learning. 

School teaches us facts (math, science); it teaches us how to communicate (English, French); it teaches us the past and the future (history, career studies); and teaches us about the world around us (geography, ecology).  Learning these things are essential to being able to live in our earthly society, and we give thanks for our teachers and all the staff at our schools, who are helping to form the next generation.

Today’s readings, however, challenge us to move beyond our earthly knowledge, our earthly treasures and even our earthly relationships, to the eternal life-giving Wisdom promised by God. 

At first glance the Gospel of Luke seems to tell us to hate our families, and even ourselves, but, thankfully, it is not that simple. Jesus knows that the Good News will not be accepted by everyone.  He knows that not all who hear His call will have the courage to follow.  So Jesus admonishes his followers not to be deterred by family and friends who turn their backs on those who want to follow Jesus.  Even if they have to abandon their livelihoods, Jesus is calling them to persevere, pick up their crosses, and follow Him.  Jesus asks the same of us today.  He asks us to seek out His Wisdom, and to trust it above our friends and family, and our very ways of life.  If we trust in God’s Wisdom we too will find the best ground on which to build our towers, and will know how to build peace in our lives. 

If school teaches us about our earthly world, how then do we find the Wisdom which goes beyond, and leads us to eternal life?

The first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, tells us that God sends us His Wisdom through the Holy Spirit.  Let us pray to the Holy Spirit then, that our faith may grow ever stronger, and we may gain Wisdom to know God’s will in our lives. 

As we begin the school year, may our learning and teaching always be guided by our triune God, and may God’s Wisdom form us into true disciples and apostles of the faith.