Wealth of the foolish

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary prompt consideration of the foolish ideas and endeaveaours which seem to consume a lot of our attention. Paul addresses the Corinthians with the comparison of human wisdom to Divine foolishness. The human enterprise so often is involved in forming cliques for power, influence and pride. The companionship of these groups too often becomes the competition to be better than the other. Paul offers the intimacy as adopted brother and sister of Christ and communion as sons of God as the “foolish” association to which all people are invited. FriarJude Winkler cites two reactions of people to the experience of Holiness. The response of Simon, a simple fisher, to the extraordinary daytime catch of fish in the passage from the Gospel of Luke today is to realize, in awe and wonder, the place of our existence in the giant scheme of God’s universe. There is no reason, no apparent advantage, no human logic in the desire of the God of the Universe to invite a band of fishermen to follow Jesus and be charged with the revelation of the Kingdom to the world. What gracious and grand foolishness!