the problem with young people these days

The problem with young people these days…

Did I get your attention? Maybe you are a parent who is smiling and thinking “I’m leaving the THIS on the kitchen counter. Or maybe you’re a young adult thinking; “I knew I didn’t like this guy”.  Hang in there; allow me to explain.

First, let’s talk about The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and another little problem. Here were are, on a day the church celebrates Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the first reading is all about a woman.

“Does not Wisdom call, and Understanding raise her voice?”

                                                         Proverbs 8:1.

What’s going on here?  Perhaps these except from the Council of U.S. Bishops will help.

Proverbs is an anthology of collections of sayings and instructions....The primary purpose of the book is to teach wisdom, not only to the young and inexperienced but also the advanced......Chapters 1-9 personify wisdom as a woman.... Wisdom is in the world but it is not obvious to people entirely caught up with daily activities.

As I first read this, I recalled the previous night where worry interrupted my sleep. Hmnn... “Wisdom is in the world, but it is not obvious to people entirely caught up with daily activities”.

Could the opposite of wisdom be worry? Proverbs 8 speaks so eloquently and beautifully of God’s Wisdom. It is as if she (Wisdom) plays an important role in connecting creation with its Creator.

In his letter to the Romans Paul writes of “an endurance and hope that come from living in the Spirit”.  Let’s not forget that Wisdom and Understanding are 2 of the 7 gifts of the Spirit.

So........maybe this is the problem with the young and the old, with you, me, and ALL people.

Maybe we are “entirely caught up in daily activities” and fail to see the wisdom that has been present and part of God’s creation since the very beginning of time. It’s certainly something to think about on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Blessed to be in ministry at St. Mary’s,

Bruce

PS

Look for the connection between today’s offertory song “Age to Age” (#424) and the first reading from Proverbs 8.