Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon,
Saint Paul Chong Ha-sang, and companions, martyrs
(Proverbs 21:1-6; 10-13; Luke 8:19-21)
Mark Twain, twisting conventional wisdom, once observed, "You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time." It is true that men and women are often duped by fine dress and quick talk. The author of the Book of Proverbs, however, assures us in the first reading that God is not so gullible.
The sage states upfront that God directs hearts however He wills. He means that God, knowing the soul of every person, will bring the honest to good fortune and the wicked to ruin. The wise man then provides a series of assurances for those who still wonder about justice in the world. He says the rash will end in poverty, the wicked will draw no compassion, and frauds will find themselves trapped in their lies.
The Book of Proverbs may seem naive in a world that keeps chasing fame, fun, and fortune. Some people, after all, seem to care exclusively about themselves. But only God knows if they live as nicely as they make others believe. And only He can say how long their comforts times will last.
