Jesus said to his apostles: “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” “And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink… will surely be received.”
Are we wise enough to receive people – their goodness, their humor and wisdom? It has been said, ‘The fool thinks themselves wise, but the wise one knows themselves to be a fool and willing receives the wisdom of others.’ We can receive from little ones, of whom Jesus speaks, the knowledge that ‘All you need in life is a friend who has chocolate.’ ‘Sometimes you just need to take a nap and get over it.’ We receive from those who are old the wisdom that ‘Life is short. Tell your loved ones you love them.’ ‘Always forgive.’ From middle age we receive a willingness to rethink the past. ‘It was when I had my own children that I learned Christmas magic is parents who love you.’ ‘A wise person does in the beginning what a foolish person does in the end – receive.’ We receive from Maya Angelou, a woman whose life and heritage were not always received, the wisdom that “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Mahatma Gandhi was not always received in his youth by people needing to learn to receive his wisdom, such as, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” From George Bernard Shaw, a man who did not always receive others but had friends who helped him to do so, like Gandhi, “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” We create ourselves from all the goodness and beauty and wisdom that live as gifts surrounding us, waiting for us to be open and to receive. We create ourselves as a gift to others from all the weaving of our interdependent lives, receiving and giving, sharing and holding close. Amidst all the interdependence days we routinely celebrate, perhaps we would be wise to select a particular Interdependence Day which we could celebrate with all people across the world.
“Close your eyes for a moment, take a few deep breaths, and remember all that you do not see. Remember the all-pervading interdependence that weaves between all things.” (May You Find Yourselves – Ballads of a Philosopher Poet)
Prayer: Beautiful Spirit, we are open to the gifts of others.
Question: What is the wisdom I have received? What is my wisdom to offer?
July 02, 2023 Gospel Matthew 10:37-42 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time