Message from Augie

What helps us see the value of the material world around us is an immaterial gift from God: WISDOM.  That is why it is treasured more than anything else.

When we hear the word “UTOPIA,” we think of something perfect and ideal, but the society in Sir Thomas More’s satirical book UTOPIA is based entirely on a pun.  Writing in the political upheaval of the sixteenth century, More invents a murky new word for his title, a word that comes from Greek language.

Everyone in content in Utopia, so you can probably understand how it might be a really good place, and you can also probably understand how it’s also an impossible place.  An example comes from which material things the people value.  Utopia’s citizens have observed that pursuing precious metals and gems creates distrust and greed.  So they melt gold into low status items like chamber pots, sixteenth century version of a toilet. They polish any pearls or gems they find, and give them to children to play with.  Putting these ornaments aside becomes a mark of transition from childhood to adulthood.

More is making fun of his own society, but he’s also issuing a challenge.  If we think about it, UTOPIA’S challenge isn’t new.  Today’s reading from Wisdom also equates gold and silver with dirt and mud, but from the perspective f properly oriented desire.  The writer offers a dare that still resonates today, which is to seek wisdom above all else.  This love for wisdom surpasses the good things of creation, the joys of health and beauty, even light itself, not because those things aren’t good, for they are, but because the presence of wisdom reveals their true beauty and goodness.  They and we are Hers, Wisdom.

SO THE QUESTION:    WHERE DO YOU TYPICALLY LOOK FOR INSIGHT INTO GOD’S WAYS?

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE:  St. Jude, apostle of Christ, the church honors and prays to you universally as the patron of hopeless and difficult cases.   Pray for us in our needs.   Make use, we implore you of this powerful privilege given to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is needed.  Pray that we humbly accept the trials and disappointments and mistakes which are a part of our human nature.   Help us to see the reflection of the suffering of Christ in the trials and tribulations of our lives.   Let us see in a spirit of great faith and hop the part we even now share in the joy of Christ’s resurrection and which we long to share fully in heaven.   Intercede that we may again experience this joy in answer to our present needs.   If it is God’s dire for us (here make your request)  we know our prayers will be heard through your intercession.  AMEN