Readings for the Day:
Reflection:
When Vincent van Gough was alive, he struggled quite a bit. While he painted over 2000 works of art, he struggled selling them. In fact, only one was sold during his lifetime. He was not well respected, and his finances were in shambles.
Today, van Gough is revered as one of the greatest artists of all time and recognized for his influence on modern art in particular. He may have been looked down on during his own lifetime, but that is far from being the case now.
In our readings, Paul speaks of the "wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age". This is the wisdom Isaiah speaks of with those who wish to sacrifice offerings. This wisdom is what the leaders of the scribes and Pharisees are putting forward in Jesus' time.
As Paul says, the path of God is "foolishness to them," to those in power at the time. This is the same path that Isaiah points to. It is the path that Jesus reminds His listeners that will lead to greater righteousness than even the scribes or Pharisees.
The way of the Lord is not recognized in this day and age, yet it is needed and necessary. Isaiah communicates this for God when he tells the people that the way they are following won't lead to the Lord as they desire. Instead, they need to look beyond the words of the Law to find the purpose that God gave it to them in the first place. Otherwise, they will fall into the path of destruction. For Paul, while this path is "secret and hidden," it is also how we "receive the gifts of God's Spirit."
Even though the world does not recognize the way of God, there is still hope. As the Psalm today reminds us, those who follow God "will be kept in everlasting remembrance."
For this reason Jesus calls us to not hide our light under a bushel, but instead to let it out and shinning for all to see. Even if the Lord's greatness isn't recognized now, and even though we may be looked down on for following God, that work will come into fruition in the end. So follow Jesus' words and continue to shine the light of God's way for that future when it will finally be recognized.