Entrusting our plans and decisions to God gives a touch of wisdom beyond ourselves
When something is worth waiting for, it’s prudent to make preparations. We can examine and cover all contingencies. Our confusion sometimes comes from not knowing what is worth waiting for, and our lack of waiting means we’re not so good at it. So many things in our lives are available within seconds, and waiting is often considered a waste of time.
Is there anything in our lives that is worth waiting for? That means we don’t control when or how it happens. We don’t control the timeframe or the circumstance. Waiting means someone else or something else is in control, and most of us don’t like that.
Our Scripture readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time give us direction and guidance on the importance of waiting and even ways to prepare better for it.
The bridegroom in the Gospel passage seems to be someone worth waiting for. He is accompanied by attendants who come with lamps, ready to light the way to wherever the bridegroom wishes to go. Once the bridegroom arrives, some attendants are prepared, while others can’t light the lamps due to a lack of fuel. At first glance, we might expect the attendants with oil to share with those who have none. But those rules don’t seem to apply in this situation. Why not?
The attendants who came prepared for the long wait and the full journey know that sharing some of the oil would endanger their ability to reach the destination with the bridegroom. The decision not to share the oil was driven by something more than simple generosity. The decision is affected by wisdom. The attendants’ goal is to light the way to the final destination. That is their goal, their purpose and what they have prepared for. To be generous without wisdom would endanger all that had been planned.
Planning ahead of time for something very important, like the event of the Gospel, is often marked by anxiety. As hard as we think and plan, we often can’t think of all the options and possibilities. Preparation influenced by wisdom helps us to be free of anxiety. As we hear in the Old Testament this weekend, wisdom waits to be invited into the person who seeks her. Once invited, wisdom takes up a dwelling in that person.
Wisdom is not just thinking harder or taking longer to make decisions; it involves shrinking the ego and depending clearly on those other than ourselves. As smart as we can be on our own, we find great wisdom when we seek the advice of others we trust and love and when we ask God to lead and guide us in whatever lies ahead or whatever plans we are making. Entrusting those things to God gives the decision a touch of wisdom beyond ourselves and can ease a great amount of anxiety.
How might we practice waiting as we make this journey to follow Jesus and to bring about the kingdom of God? How might we be more open to accepting God’s guidance and valuing it above our own intellectual abilities? How can we learn to trust the Holy Spirit’s movement as the Spirit infuses our decisions and choices with God’s wisdom?
Delaying gratification to learn not to be so afraid of waiting is a good practice. Remember all the times in the past when we tried to do everything on our own and realized we don’t know everything we need to know. Wisdom waits for an invitation and a heart and mind that have been preparing for that gift. Wait on the promises of God.
