Homily for Friday, Week 2 of Advent

Homily for Friday
Week 2 of Advent

Dec. 11, 2020
Collect
Matt 11: 16-19
Ursulines, Willow Dr., New Rochelle, N.Y.

Today’s Collect reminds us of the Lord’s parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids and their lamps.  Wisdom and foolishness are themes running thru the readings.

If we’re wise and heed God’s commands, we’ll prosper, says the Lord thru Isaiah (48:17-19).  The Psalmist assures us of the same:  the person who walks in the way of the Lord “is like a tree planted near running water” (1:3), while the wicked are like chaff blown away by the wind (1:4).

Jesus uses a parable to bemoan his contemporaries who refuse to listen to either him or John the Baptist, who can’t be pleased by any variety of spirituality or asceticism.  When he pronounces his judgment—“Wisdom is vindicated by her works” (Matt 11:19)—he’s implying that the critics have rejected wisdom and opted for foolishness.  They’ve been shown 2 forms of repentance and renewal—John’s asceticism and Jesus’ “good news” approach—and pooh-poohed both.  There just ain’t no pleasing some folks!

Or perhaps it’s a case of some folks’ believing that all wisdom resides within themselves, and any other usage is out in left field.  We can find a lot of those sorts in the Catholic blogosphere and other media.

On the other hand, in the Prayer over the Gifts we’ll present “our humble prayers and offerings” and confess our own lack of merits, throwing ourselves under the protection of divine mercy.  There is wisdom!

And wisdom, sisters, is not only in our humility but also in our kindness and respect for one another:  no passing judgment, no gossip, no snippiness, lots of patience.  Oh Lord, that’s hard!  May the Lord in his mercy help us to stay alert, lamps lit (Collect), eager to see him at hand.