Memorial of Saint Josephat, bishop and martyr
(Wisdom 6:1-11; Luke 17:11-19)
The Book of Wisdom was most likely written in the city of
Alexandria, Egypt, around the time of Christ.
Today’s reading instructs earthy rulers on the need of wisdom. The passage reverberates with gospel passages. As Jesus told his disciples that more will be
expected from those who are given more (Luke 12:48), Wisdom warns princes, “…the
lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the
test.”
Judgment in Wisdom is not only found in the hope of earthly reconciling
of accounts between victims and assailants, but also in eternal reckoning. The Book of Wisdom assures the existence of
eternal life. It declared in the passage
read yesterday at mass “…the souls of the just are in the hand of God.” Christ, of course, validated this statement
in his resurrection from the dead.
The warning of Wisdom to earthly rulers applies to most of
us. We may not be leaders of state or heads
of departments, but most of us are given responsibility for others. Teachers are responsible for students; head
nurses for their staffs; and parents for their children. We too will be judged on whether we “walk(ed)
according to the will of God.”
