Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (From the Pastor’s Desk)
Notes
Transcript
One of the famous Polish phrases used to indicate that someone is not smart or wise is "Osioł Dardanelski," which can be easily translated as "Dardanelles Donkey."
Not many people understand the etymology of this phrase. "Donkey" is maybe easy to understand in the context of being stubborn, while "Dardanelles" is not so clear. It is linked to another animal - the Trojan Horse, which could also be referred to as the "Dardanelles Horse" (The ancient city of Troy was located near the western entrance of the Dardanelles strait).
I'm sure that everyone is familiar with the story of the Trojan Horse. It was a legendary tactic employed by the Greeks during the Trojan War (12th century BC). The Greeks constructed a large wooden horse and concealed soldiers inside it. They then presented the horse as a gift to the Trojans, who brought it within their city walls. During the night, the Greek soldiers emerged from the horse and opened the gates, allowing the rest of the Greek army to enter and defeat the Trojans.
The Trojan Horse has since become a metaphor for a clever strategy, seizing the moment of opportunity.
The Polish phrase "Dardanelles Donkeys." means the opposite, as it uses the donkey instead of the horse. Still as big as a horse but not as smart and wise.
Today's Gospel reading provides us with a reflection on something similar, but not the Dardanelles Horses or Donkeys, but on 10 virgins waiting to meet a bridegroom: 5 Wise and 5 Foolish.
Our first reading focuses on the desire for wisdom. "Resplendent and unfading is wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her."
Alright, we all want it, but what is wisdom? How is wisdom best understood?
If you go to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, you will learn that wisdom is, among other things, a quality, "the quality of being wise." It is the "ability to discern inner qualities and relationships." It is "perception of the best ends and the best means." It is "discernment and judgment; discretion; sagacity."
The Psalm 111:10 tells us that the beginning of wisdom is the “fear of the Lord.” It means that reverence toward and being in awe of God is the right direction. Wisdom means more than knowledge or IQ.
Saint Augustine wrote: “We were fooled by the wisdom of the serpent but saved by the foolishness of God.” Divine wisdom is a sort of foolishness to the worldly eye, an overly generous, seeking-nothing-in-return kind of outpouring of sheer goodness and sharing of right knowledge. That’s divine wisdom.” (St. Augustine, On Christian Doctrine I.14)
Our Gospel Reading links wisdom to the proper time. The foolish virgins were named that way because they lost their zeal for watching; they were too tired filling up the flasks with oil. They didn't fully embrace the present moment.
Saint Paul in the letter to the Ephesians wrote: “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15–17)
The ancient Greeks had two words for time.
The first was Chronos - it refers to clock time - time that can be measured - seconds, minutes, hours, years.
The second was Kairos - it refers to the right moment, the perfect moment. In Greek mythology, Kairos was the god of opportunity, the youngest son of Zeus, commonly represented as a handsome young bald man with a single lock of hair falling over his forehead.
The Greeks believed that you have only one chance to catch him when he appears, and then you have to know when to grasp this unique strand of hair. Kairos – is the perfect moment of being prepared well: here and now.
Let's pray this week that the Lord will help us to live in the reality of His coming, right here, right now, in our Kairos moment.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Rafal Kandora