Thursday, November 12, 2009

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 12-11-09

Wisdom 7:22 - 8:1
Luke 17 : 20-25

Humanity has progressed to the extent that we say we live in a civilized world.

Yet the 20th century civilized world had seen two World Wars, besides besides many other major conflicts that have led to great bloodshed.

The 2nd World War was evidence of a world of deranged nations just out to destroy each other.

Yet in the madness and insanity of World War II, there were sparks of humanity and even profound sayings.

One profound saying came from the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet. His name is Adm. Yamamoto.

He master-minded the attack on Pearl Harbour.

As he presented his plan for the attack on Pearl Harbour, one of the generals commented that he was indeed a wise and brilliant man to think of such a plan.

Adm. Yamamoto replied : A truly wise and brilliant man would find a way not to fight a war.

Indeed why would a truly wise person resort to conflict and violence and start a war.

When a person lives with divine wisdom, the wisdom that comes from God, then evil can never be a product of that person.

Because a truly wise person radiates not only wisdom but also the love of God and all the qualities of wisdom that are mentioned in the 1st reading.

Because a truly wise person is also truly a human being who reflects God in his life.

As Jesus would say it in the gospel : For you must know, the kingdom of God is among (within) you.


Supplementary :
When the Nobel prize winner Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, was asked "How do you find God?", he answered : You ask me "How do I find God?". I do not know how, but I do know where - in my fellow man.