Ordinary Time

Pause

In what ways do we think we are already wise? What do we think we already know?

And how might Jesus challenge us to unlearn and relearn these things, so that we can be brought deeper into God's wisdom?

Listen

Praise the Lord! Those who honor the Lord, who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy! Their descendants will be strong throughout the land. The offspring of those who do right will be blessed; wealth and riches will be in their houses. Their righteousness stands forever. They shine in the dark for others who do right. They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous. Those who lend generously are good people— as are those who conduct their affairs with justice.

Psalm 112:1-5

Think

There are two mistakes which can be made reading Psalms like this one. The first is to think that it is talking about us as we already are, and so identifying ourselves already honoring the Lord and adoring God’s commandments. This can bring us into pride. The second is to think that it could never talk about us, that we could never really be merciful, compassionate, and righteous. This can lead us into despair.

The trick is to recognize that the Bible doesn’t teach us who honors the Lord. It teaches us what it means to honor the Lord. The words “merciful,” “compassionate,” and “righteous” can mean anything out of context. I suggest we look to Jesus as we seek to understand.

Our task, then, is to try and learn what these words mean when applied to Jesus, as a first step to learning what it means to adore God’s commandments. You know the stories! How does Christ practice mercy, compassion, and righteousness? Then we can explore how to live out these words today.

Ed Watson

Pray

Lord God, I pray that I will not treat wisdom as a means to judge either myself or others, but as the road to learning your compassion, your mercy, and your righteousness, revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Go

Be wise today by seeking to relearn wisdom through Jesus.

Look to the ways in which the light of Christ reveals things anew.