Proverbs 9:1-6/ Ephesians 5:15-20/ John 6:51-58
Two
dots on a piece of paper can be joined by a line.
In our minds, we would presume that the line would be a straight line, meaning to say that a ruler would be placed between the two dots, and a straight line would be drawn across to join the two dots.
In our minds, we would presume that the line would be a straight line, meaning to say that a ruler would be placed between the two dots, and a straight line would be drawn across to join the two dots.
Especially
in technical drawing, a line is usually a straight line.
But that’s on paper,
and we are talking about technical drawings.
But
in life, lines may not be that straight, and the lines of life weave in and out
of the various aspects of life.
For
example, the line that divides the rich and the poor is not a pencil-thin line,
but a large grey area. The question is how rich is rich and poor is poor?
Or
the line between good and bad. Again, the question is how good is good and how
bad is bad?
And
the line between wisdom and foolishness may also not be so clear at times.
It
is said that wise men talk because they have something to say, whereas fools
talk because they have to say something.
Indeed,
there is a difference between having something to say, and having to say
something.
Yet
is also said that, never argue with a fool, because people may not know the
difference.
In
other words, only fools argue with each other.
In
the gospel, we heard that the people were arguing with one another.
They
were arguing about this – How can this man (Jesus) give us his flesh to eat?
Jesus
said that He is the living bread, and that the bread He shall give is His flesh
for the life of the world!
The
main point of the people’s argument is just those two words : How can? (How can
this man give us his flesh to eat?)
And
if we were around at that time when Jesus said those words, what would our
reaction be?
Most
likely than not, we are also going to say “How can?”
As a
matter of fact, the ignorant and the foolish will be quick to say “How can?” to
what they do not understand.
And
even if the majority says the same thing, it doesn’t mean that they are right.
So
even if fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.
Well,
six centuries before Christ, there was a Greek philosopher and mathematician by
the name of Pythagoras. From him we got the Pythagoras theorem.
He
was the first man to say that the world was round.
The
people at that time ridiculed him and also said “How can?”
Now,
if we were there, six centuries before Christ, and we hear him saying that the
world was round, what would our reaction be?
Would
we say “How can the world be round?” (because our eyes see it as flat!)
Or
would we ever dare to say “Why can’t the world be round?” and then get shot
with all kinds of ridicules.
Indeed,
to challenge the foolishness of this world, we need a lot of courage and
wisdom.
It
is easier to say “How can?” and stay with the majority; it is not that easy to
say “Why cannot?” and then be ridiculed for being foolish.
Yet
the 1st reading reminds us that as we partake of the Eucharist, we
partake of the bread of life, and in doing so, we must live our lives with
wisdom and leave the folly of foolishness.
The
2nd reading also tells us the same thing – to be careful about the
sort of lives we lead, to be wise and not be like foolish people.
So
practically what does that mean? Well the 2nd reading continues by
saying that this may be a wicked age, but our lives should redeem it.
We
have been told to study hard and to work hard, so that we can do well in life.
Now,
what does “do well in life” means?
Obviously
to do well in life means that we are going upwards in life, we are successful
at work, we are well-off, we are somebody in somewhere that people look up to
and admire.
Yes,
the world talks about doing well in life. But those who are wise will talk
about doing good in life.
And
the line between doing well and doing good is parallel to the line between
foolishness and wisdom.
In
other words, what is the point of doing well in life, if we are not doing any
good in life?
In
choosing to live by the wisdom from God, we will want to do good in life, and
by our lives lived in wisdom, we will redeem the world of its foolishness.
So
it’s not with a foolish cynical attitude that we ask “How can we redeem the
world with our lives?”
Rather,
we will seriously think about how to live wisely in this world of foolishness
and wickedness.
Some
of us may know who Sam Plimsoll is. He lived during the 19th century
(1824 – 1898).
He
started his working life as a lowly clerk in England, and he was doing well and
rising up the ranks.
Then
misfortune struck him and he was reduced to destitution.
But
empty pockets and empty stomachs will help you learn a million good things
about life.
Sam
Plimsoll learned from his poverty and he set off to do good in life, and he
also did quite well in life.
He
directed his efforts against what was known as the “coffin ships” at that time.
“Coffin
ships” was the term given to unseaworthy and overloaded ships which were often
heavily insured by greedy and unscrupulous owners.
Needless
to say, many ships sank and many lives were lost. And that was evil and wicked.
When
Sam Plimsoll challenged the mighty and arrogant shipping industry, his peers
ridiculed him by saying “How can? How can you alone challenge the mighty
shipping industry?”
Sam
Plimsoll wisely replied : Why can’t we just paint a line on the hull of each
ship, to indicated whether the ship was overloaded or not?
After
much lobbying, the “Plimsoll line”, as it was called, became a standard feature
on all ships, and remains so today.
It’s
just a line, but it saved lives. It’s just a line but it divides good and evil.
It’s just a line, but it made the difference between wisdom and foolishness.
So
do our lives have a line that distinguishes what is wisdom and what is
foolishness?
Do
our hearts have a line that tells us what is good and what is evil?