Reflections on SIR 51:12 CD-20
by Frank Savadera, SJ
Friends, today’s reading from the Book
of Sirach tells us: “My soul was
tormented in seeking her (“her” being WISDOM). My hand opened WISDOM’s gate and
I came to know her secrets.”
Today as we know from previous years, we
would be closing the gates later on and there will perhaps be crying, wailing
and perhaps even gnashing of teeth (as we bid our new brother novices our
temporary goodbyes!) BUT always, we know
that this is also HAPPY OCCASION. Are you
happy? NIMEN KWAE LA MA? No one is
forced to be here, right?
It is a happy occasion precisely because
after much time of discernment (mind you some of them really took time) toiling and tormenting their souls in seeking
WISDOM … as the Book of Sirach tells us
… they have finally finally found themselves before WISDOM’s GATE. Huh …
is this it? And
slowly slowly they will come to know more about her secrets. What secrets lie beyond the gates of Sacred
Heart Novitiate? Would you like to
know? Secret nga eh!
What we know is that GREATER WISDOM will
be within their reach! And because of
this, we would like to be happy for them and with them … and GREET them … DOM, BIEN, KAYBEE, IRVIN, JOHN, CHRISTIAN
JAMES, WEIPANG, SHUXIN, MINGFEI, XUNGBO,
ERIC and PHILIP … even if it torments your souls … SEEK GREATER WISDOM … we
don’t even need to say it because you know what WISDOM is … and
“who” wisdom is. Wisdom is God. Seek Wisdom. Many of her gates will open before you. Be not afraid to know more about her secrets!
A little request to our new novices …
since you are leaving us at least temporarily … and you … we believe will come
closest to wisdom … please pray for us!
Life will be different for us without you! Pray for us that WE MAY MISS YOU! Pray for us … that we may support you! Pray for us that we may completely surrender
you! Pray for us to understand that as
we gather here today … bitter sweet as the occasion may be … the Spirit may
continue to challenge us each day to submit to how God may reveal His greater
wisdom. We anticipate this with JOY and
GLADNESS! Brothers, we welcome you to
the Jesuit Novitiate. We welcome you to
the Society of Jesus.
