Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Sirach 15:16–21; 1 Corinthians 2:6–10; Matthew 5:17–37)
Worldly wisdom. Isn’t this what our Uncle John used to
describe as necessary for a good life? He outlined some of its principles for
us: it is good to help your neighbor, but it is even better to be seen helping.
Also, what matters most is not what you know, but whom you know.
In today’s second reading, from his First Letter to the
Corinthians, Saint Paul also speaks about worldly wisdom. He does not so much
criticize it as he points out that it is not equal to divine wisdom. Indeed, in
some ways human wisdom can help us move through life with a certain ease. For
example, it suggests that we study when we are young so that we will not have
to work as hard when we are adults. There is nothing radical about that. Another saying of worldly wisdom, certainly more controversial, is this: it is
good to be loved, but it is better to be feared. Dictators put this piece of
worldly wisdom into practice.
The main problem Paul has with worldly wisdom is that it
cannot save us from sin and death. On the contrary, according to Saint Paul, if
we follow only the advice of the wise of this world, we will end up dead
forever. That is why he exhorts the Corinthians to seek the wisdom of God.
Where can it be found? Paul says it is no farther away —nor more difficult to
grasp— than surrendering ourselves to Christ crucified.
In last Sunday’s reading, Paul spoke about how he himself
surrendered to Christ’s cross when he came to preach in Corinth. He said, “When
I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not
come with sublimity of words or of wisdom… for I resolved to know nothing while
I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Paul did not speak of
an invincible warrior or an athletic champion who might gather mass allegiance. Rather, he spoke of a man who gave his life
for others. Somehow, this preaching won the minds and hearts of many listeners.
Preaching Jesus Christ crucified qualifies as the wisdom of
God because it favors the poor and the humble rather than the powerful. Jesus
died at the hands of the powerful in order to save the multitudes from sin and
death. It is also divine wisdom because it works mysteriously: it does not
attract people through a display of power, but through a story of universal
love. Without a doubt, Paul preached the resurrection of the Lord along with
his apparently complete defeat on the cross. Yet the acceptance of this message
was the work of the Holy Spirit, not the charm of country folk tales, since the
Corinthians were city people, not very tolerant of rural folktales.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples to put the
wisdom of God into practice. He says that it is not enough not to kill; they
must also avoid anger toward a brother or sister. In this way, everyone will
know that they belong to God. Likewise, they must not only refrain from
committing adultery, but also avoid looking at a woman with lust. In this way,
people will recognize that it is God’s grace that is at work, not merely human
discipline. Finally, Jesus says that his disciples should not take oaths, but
should “let your ‘yes’ mean yes, and your ‘no’ mean no.” (We understand this
prohibition as a condemnation of unnecessary, casual, or deceptive oaths.) His
disciples are not meant to impress others with lengthy words, but to bear
witness to the simple truth.
In a few days we will begin the season of Lent. It is an
opportunity for us to practice the wisdom of God. May our sacrifices and our
prayer not be ways of impressing one another. Rather, may they be a testimony
of our love for God and for our neighbor.
