Word to the Wise
Thursday, February 23, 2017 - Thursday in the 7th Week in Ordinary Time
[Sir 5:1-8 and Mark 9:41-50]Rely not on your wealth; say not: "I have the power." Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart. [Sirach]
FEBRUARY 23 ST. POLYCARP, bishop and martyr
The parallels between growing older at the beginning of life and at the ending have often been noted. An infant growing aware of independence will demand to "Do it myself," as well as an elder, growing aware of diminishing independence. I am more and more in the latter category. In November and December of last year I preached retreats for Dominican sisters in "assisted living" and "skilled care" settings. Those experiences (and the sisters' stories) certainly reminded me of the passage of time and the power of faith as the ability to "do it myself" diminishes. The first scripture from Sirach today reminds us of the importance of "depending" on God and not on our own strength or asserting an unrealistic independence!
There is a line in the Gospel According to John that really sums this up very well. Jesus is speaking to Peter, but I certainly feel he is speaking to me: "Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." (John 21:18-19). The challenge is to exercise stewardship of one's resources so that one can do as much as one can for as long as one can. The Lord will help as long as we are willing to acknowledge and rely on that help, and accept what comes in an "attitude of gratitude." AMEN
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