THURSDAY, TWENTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Kolkata
1 Cor 3: 18-23 Ps 24: 1-6 Lk 5: 1-11
A FOOL FOR CHRIST
Peter was an accomplished fisherman. His knowledge of the sea was a kind of ‘the wisdom of the world’, which failed before the Master’s true wisdom. Jesus had great plans for Peter and his companions. ‘Put out into the deep and let your nets for a catch’, meant that the wisdom of this world is folly with God. Peter toiled the whole night uselessly. Why was that particular night’s work futile? The master wanted to touch his heart and speak to him tenderly. Jesus chose Peter and his companions to fish for men, to work for the Master’s kingdom which appears to be foolishness to human eyes; especially the eyes of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, but is true wisdom to those who can enter into the depths.
Life of prayer and discipleship is foolishness, especially to the modern world with its earthly wisdom, but real wisdom to those who can pledge their lives to the giver of life. The Lord of the harvest who calls them and entrusts them this great apostolate of prayer, discipleship and mission. Saint Teresa of Kolkata, whose feast we celebrate today, is a good example of ‘the folly of God,’ whom she embraced, leaving aside all the wisdom the world could offer her. She treasured every little thing, full of faith, hope, and charity. She created a new world for the poorest of the poor. How mysterious are God’s ways! How inscrutable His wisdom!
‘Everyone of you is declaring, I belong to Paul; I belong to Apollos, I belong to Cephas.’ This is the wisdom of this era, of the world. The opposite is true. You do not belong to them they belong to you as servants. And they are at your service, as is all creation, so that you may belong to Christ who in turn belongs to God the Father. St Paul exults and rejoices to be a fool for Christ, which is the true wisdom he possesses. What about you and me? Can we take delight in being a fool for Christ?
Response: The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness.
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