"Would You Rather": A Reflection on the First Reading for October 14th, 2018: Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

---

Wisdom 7:7-11

Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.  I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.  Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her.  I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases.  All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.

---

Would you rather eat pizza or sushi? Would you rather always be hot, or always be cold? Would you rather have a pet narwhal, or be a narwhal?

Choices—we make them every single day. Sometimes they are easy—like what to put in your coffee. Other times, the choice is more difficult: What am I going to be when I grow up? Choices can also be quite silly.  Sadly, there have been times when I have been stressed over a choice between two different donuts. Just pick a donut, Aurea!

In this reading from the Book of Wisdom, the author has made a choice. The author chooses Wisdom above all else, because “all good things come to me along with her”. Rather than riches or beauty or fame, the author values Wisdom, because that one choice opens the door to all kinds of good. A few lines further along in this passage of scripture, the author prays for Wisdom. Wisdom is not a trait that comes easily. It is gained. How? From our experiences. From our knowledge of similar situations. From our understanding of the circumstances. If we have allowed ourselves to be impacted by our lived knowledge, experience, and understanding, we gain some level of wisdom. For us, as believers of Christ, it is those three factors and the stirrings of the Holy Spirit in all those instances, that open us up to God’s wisdom. As disciples, we know Wisdom is not just gained, rather it is given—as one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Everyday, in the choices we make, we are invited to unwrap that gift of Wisdom given freely to us by allowing God to reveal it to us. And then, we are invited to share His wisdom with others!

When I was a kid, I used to love the “Choose Your Own Adventures” book series. These books allowed me to be the writer. At different points in the story, I would be presented with a choice about how the story would proceed. If I wanted the character to find out what was in the locked trunk, I turned to page 48, but if I wanted the character to run away, I was instructed to go to page 92. As exciting as it was to make these choices, sometimes it was also quite daunting. The well-being of that character depended on my choice! Okay—not really. It was just a story.

We, too, have a story that we are co-writing with our Creator God. Choosing to be a disciple of Christ, by giving our “yes”, is the ultimate “Choose Your Own Adventure”. God has carefully crafted our individual stories, yet also asks us to help create them with Him. We were given unique gifts, like the wisdom and freedom to make the choices for how our story will go.   

So…

Would you rather choose your own adventure, or the one God wants to make with you? ​

​Aurea Sadi

"God has carefully crafted our individual stories, yet also asks us to help create them with Him." - Aurea Sadi (Ora Reflections)

Tweet