20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

18 August 2024

Lectionary Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6; Ps 34; Eph 5:15-20; Jn 6:51-58

Theme: “To you, O people, I call”

When I  turned to the readings for this Sunday I was delighted to encounter the verses from the Book of Proverbs.  They bring back memories from a long time ago when I attended the University of Toronto. I was a student at the Anglican women’s college, named St. Hilda’s in honour of the 7^th-century English abbess and educator. At dinner one evening, somebody at the table asked the meaning of the college’s Latin motto which was inscribed on our dinner plates.  It is taken from Proverbs 9:10 – “Timor Dei Principium Sapientiae.”  I offered the translation: “The fear of god is the beginning of wisdom.”  Her response, which I assumed to be ironic, was: “How pleasant when you’re eating.”  She had a point – a better translation for timor might have been ‘awe’ or ‘reverence’.  After all, we had said grace before eating and it was not motivated by fear (although honesty compels me to admit the possibility that we may have said it simply out of habit.)

In this Sunday’s reading Wisdom is not described as a stern schoolteacher but as a welcoming hostess, ready to offer wine and meat to her guests. Her guests are not her  friends or people who might be of use to her.  Her guests are people she does not know, people who are in need of what she will give them.  Her longing for guests at her table is so strong that she stands in public calling out for them:

“Does not wisdom call and understanding raise her voice?  On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: “To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all who live. O simple ones, learn prudence;
 acquire intelligence, you who lack it.” (Prov 8:1-5)

We are all people whom Wisdom would like to see seated around her table.  We need what she loves to give.  No matter how intelligent we are and how much education we have we remain ‘simple’ rather than wise.  Dining in the house of Wisdom means more than enjoying a pleasant evening out.  It is an experience that will change us for the better.

For Reflection and Discussion: Wisdom is not a matter of learning a lot of facts or acquiring professional skills. “The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom” reminds us that our relationship to the Lord is that of creatures to their Creator. As we read in Psalm 100: “It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.”  In today’s world we often hear the message that we do indeed make ourselves.  We are offered many ways of remaking ourselves, whether in mind, body or spirit.  How about asking the lord for help? How about taking a seat at Wisdom’s table?

Bibliography::    See St. Hilda’s motto:   https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/1845

This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Anne Morton, Canada, Bat Kol Alumna 2010

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