The 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2020

This weekend is Saturday the 7 and Sunday the 8 November, beginning the 32nd week of Ordinary Time.

Salt of the Sound sings, ‘I Need Thee Every Hour’. One strand running through our prayer this week is thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, in particular, for the people who have strengthened our faith. On the feast of All Souls, we remembered those we have known who have since died. The feast of the Jesuit saints invited us to remember all who brought the faith to us. And at different points in his letter to the Philippians, Paul rejoices in their response to the faith that he has brought them. The author of today’s passage imagines wisdom as a person of this kind, bringing and strengthening faith.  

Today’s reading is from the book of Wisdom.    

Wisdom 6:12-16  

Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.  

Wisdom is more than cleverness, or book-learning. It is linked to deep understanding, to discernment. Can you think of anyone who you would consider to be wise in this way? What leads you to say that of them?  

The writer of this passage thinks of wisdom as something that needs to be looked for and sought out. In what ways do you think of yourself as a seeker of wisdom?  

As you listen again, notice what there is about this image of wisdom that most appeals to you.  

As the prayer comes to a close, you may want to ask God to depend this gift of wisdom within you; or to thank God for the wisdom you have already been given.  

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.