Ecclesiasticus 4:11-19 / Mark 9:38-40
Compared with the world of yesteryear, the world of today is really fast and even instant.
We have fast cars, fast trains, fast planes and of course instant coffee and instant hot water.
And there are so many means to get fast and quick information.
But the 1st reading tells us that wisdom is not instantaneously transferred from the book or from the computer screen into our minds and hearts.
In fact, the 1st reading tells us that growth in wisdom often goes through winding ways and we will doubt and question and even be in distress.
That was the experience of John the disciple in the gospel passage.
He thought that Jesus would affirm him for what he said but instead he got chided.
Indeed, before we can attain a wise discernment and wise judgment, we may have to learn from our mistakes and blunders.
Yes, it is in those mistakes and blunders that we must listen to the voice of the Lord as He teaches us the wisdom of life.
Because the first step in attaining wisdom is to have an attentive and listening ear.