Wisdom does not grow dim
32nd Sunday A
Ballymore
8 November 2026
My friends,
One of the amazing, if not shocking, figures that emerged from the recent ‘mid-term’ elections in the U.S. is the extraordinary amount of money spent on advertising – almost half a billion dollars by some.
There are two significant elements to this expenditure – one if this figure were expended as part of the countries aid programme, it would restore half of the figure cancelled in 2024 – which right now in its absence has had profound impact by way of poverty and hunger.
The second feature of this spending is the assumption that people cannot exercise their own good sense, wisdom and judgment about what’s best for the common good. This is a salutary lesson.
My friends, these Sunday’s we draw closer to the end of the liturgical year, and our readings reflect themes that guide us to think of the deeper things – like death itself and how best to face it. Our remembrance of the dead and our reflection on their lives reawaken our appreciation of how much we owe them. While some will have had difficult experiences with a parent, most will be remembering with gratitude.
The key lesson from today is the awareness and attention we can live with when guided by the gift of wisdom – a capacity for spiritual discernment. Sophia – is the Greek word for wisdom and in the reading today is referenced in the feminine. Though an Old Testament reading you could easily if you refer to the Holy Spirit in place of wisdom - it would read naturally.
The essential core is that wisdom is not an object to be possessed, rather a personal gift and quality of understanding life and people. And so is much sought after and desired. Indeed it is the most sophisticated industry in society today, especially, the development of personal therapy. It is remarkable the growth in the number of people, often very accomplished in their profession, who feel the need of a professional counsellor to manage their lives. The counsellors of whom they avail are in reality, trained listeners. Trained listeners in the sense they “hear between the lines” to ask the person to explore something/issue more deeply. All of this talk is usually very helpful by way of insight and understanding but it will accomplish little unless the client accepts the insight and understanding and integrates it into their everyday living – that’s a spiritual task.
That’s what is meant by true wisdom, not something we possess, rather who we are and who we become. In saying this is to suggest that true wisdom has a spiritual quality, whereby our living and growing through life is done with the awareness and attention to God.
It is increasingly recognised in therapy and counselling, the need to recognise the spirituality of the one seeking help. In that sense, therapy or counselling is a science yes but also an art.
Spiritual direction has had a long tradition in the life of the Church especially with priests and religious. Thankfully, today there are lay women and men who are trained to this work of journeying with another. This work of spiritual direction, while confidential, was always separate from the Confessional, the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Returning to the scandalous expenditure on advertising, we are well able to make our own judgement, but when we sense we’re missing something and we need help to do so, it takes humility to ask for help. And that’s no bad thing! It stands in the long tradition of the ‘Anam Cara’.
