FRIDAY, TWENTY FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Memorial of Saint Euphrasia
1 Cor 1: 17-25 Ps 33: 1-2, 4-5, 10-11 Mt 25: 1-13
THE CROSS – FOLLY OR WISDOM?
Vigilance and Wisdom are two significant dimensions of the Christian life. These are the profound lessons the day’s liturgy offers us. The Christian is at an advantage to wade, with steadfastness and discernment, through the complexities of life, if he/she embraces the virtues of vigilance and wisdom.
Jesus asks his followers to be watchful. In the day’s gospel, The Lord teaches his followers and reminds each of us yet again, that the saving day of the Lord shall come at an hour we least expect (Mt 24:42-44). As much as the parable is about being vigilant, staying on our guard being ready to welcome the unexpected arrival of the Lord, it is equally about being wise. This is the idea that connects the parable to the first reading. When Paul speaks of the Cross, he presents its two sides: the cross as folly and the cross as wisdom. The Cross is folly for those who consider the self-emptying actions of the Son of God, and the sufferings he undertook, merely at its face value. They see the cross and Jesus’ willingness to endure pain and agony for humanity as a weakness, a flaw. On the other hand, the cross is wisdom for those who look at Christ and his salvific deeds with faith, recognizing brightly in them, Jesus’ atoning action of shedding his blood, to reconcile us to God.
When these ideas from the readings intersect our lives, certain realizations emerge before us: when sufferings come my way, in my personal life, how do I react to it? Do I look at suffering as an inevitable part of life that I am condemned to shoulder, or do I look at it as a means that can be used to sanctify my own soul, or to gain souls for Christ, like St Therese of Lisieux? My answer to the question tells me what meaning Christ’s Cross holds in my life. If I choose the former, Jesus’ cross becomes a folly for me, but if I choose the latter, I will have found meaning in His cross. Let us seek the wisdom to understand Jesus’ sacrifice and to embrace the true depth of the cross.
Response: The Lord’s merciful love fills the earth.
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