November 16, 2017 – Thursday in the 32nd Week of the Church Year
Saint for the day: Margaret of Scotland (1045 – November 16, 1093)
Scripture Readings for today’s Liturgy:
Wisdom 7:22b – 8:1 – Psalm 119 – Luke 17:20-25
“Lord, help me to change the things I cannot accept; and accept the things I cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference!”
I don’t know who said those words but it leads me to think that today could be called, “Wisdom Thursday” since all three scripture readings seem to carry this theme. We are thrown back, once again, to that place where we come to grips with the reality that it’s not this or that but, rather, both and.
It might be good to go back and read the first scripture reading from the Book of Wisdom again in order to see all the aspects of this great gift. It begins with a long, 29 word sentence that gives us more than enough to work on for the rest of our lives! But don’t stop there. I like to use the model of putting statements like these into question form and ask myself, “when am I intelligent? When am I Holy? Unique?” And then, maybe change it to “How am I subtle, agile, clear, unstained?”
Be sure to click on the link to today’s saint, Margaret of Scotland to see how she made these scripture passages real in her life. She didn’t charge in brandishing swords with threats to kill the non-believers, but came with the “Word of Life, Jesus Christ” that light that shines in the darkness of this world. “Your word, O Lord, endures forever; it is firm as the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89)
The “key” to the above verse has to be, YOUR word! Not mine. But that WORD that was made flesh and dwelt among us. The word that heals and builds up. The word that gives hope and meaning to our lives. The word that is planted in our hearts that motivates us to reach out and lift up and not destroy and kill.
And we’re back to square one: “Lord, give me the wisdom to know the difference!” Amen!