Sir 51:12cd-20 Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 Mk 11:27-33

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

The reading from Sirach delves into the wonder of wisdom and all of the blessings it can give. It sounds so easy! I have found the path to wisdom much less cut and dry. I find myself with old beliefs and old desires altered. That which I found so important years ago is no longer my primary concern. Surely I have always done what I think is right, but what happens when what I think is right changes? I am reminded of a prayer by Thomas Merton:

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please
you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all
that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this, you
will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death, I will
not fear, for you are ever with me
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.

Quite honestly, I sometimes feel lost and confused. But I have to hope that my desires are, if nothing else, filled with the best intentions. I am encouraged to act and think critically, to learn so that I can be constantly advancing in my quest for wisdom. Maybe that’s what wisdom is about: having the awareness to know that what you are doing might not be perfect and having the humility to recognize your mistakes in order to improve yourself.

And maybe not, I can’t say for certain.