Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: As I was preparing this week for my Sunday homily I ran across a reflection that mentioned one of my favorite movies, the Shawshank Redemption. The person reflecting on the Sunday readings focused on a very important line in the movie, one that I have used often in talks and homilies – “I guess it comes down to a simple choice really:  Get busy living or get busy dying.”
 
Yes, it does come down to a simple choice our life is either about living or dying. I believe, like to author of the reflection I read, that this simple choice is what sits underneath the words of our readings today. We have been reading the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel for a month now and Jesus has reminded us over and over that he is the Bread of Life, that he is the Cup of Blessing, of Salvation, that he is the food of life. However, it is up to us to believe and perhaps more importantly to live this gift.
 
In our reading from the Book of Proverbs we are reminded of the importance, the value and the gift that wisdom is but once again life needs to be lived. Day in and day out we experience people whom we think are smart, well educated, wise, and yet they do and say foolish things. Every day we encounter people who have a brain cramps, moments when all their knowledge and wisdom just goes right out the window. They post something on Twitter, Facebook or some other social media or they do something or act a certain way that was better left unspoken, written, or done and life comes crashing down. We all do stupid things even though the gift of wisdom is all around us.
 
In the Book of Proverbs today Wisdom invites us to her table to eat and drink, but I think sometimes we over eat, we get indigestion for a moment and within that moment we do or say something that has a profound if not permanent effect on our lives. Wisdom is a gift, a gift of the Holy Spirit, it is an attribute of God, but it can only help us if we live it.
 
St. Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians reminds us to be smart in the way we live life. He reminds us to find our focus – Jesus, and to live always by this focus. If we do this, we will be using the gift of wisdom and the craziness and evil of the world will not overcome us. For St. Paul and the writer of the Book of Proverbs it is moderation in everything but God!
 
In our scriptures today, the message is clear – “Get busy living because the alternative is dying!” As you receive the Bread of Life today make sure you take it forth with you into the world as you are busy today and everyday living life in Christ to the fullest.
 
Have a blessed Sunday everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time today!