I do not know about you, but growing up I thought that I knew better than anybody. When I had to do something, I worked out a plan or I decided a course of action, and I was convinced that they were the absolute best. Indeed, it was always hard for me to consider an opinion that would suggest a plan or a course of action other than mine. However, I once experienced the value of listening to someone who knew a lot less than me, of acting on his word, and seeing things work out better than I could have ever planned or anticipated.
Deadline
I was way behind the deadline for handing in a draft of my thesis proposal. And, I was not happy with what I had written. It was going to be rejected, I was sure of it! I wanted to continue working on it to make it perfect. I was overwhelmed and anxious! I remember speaking to a very good friend who was not into academics, deadlines, or anything of the sort. Nevertheless, he was a very pragmatic and wise guy, and he told me: “Hand in the proposal as is and let them tell you if it is good enough or not. Do not be the judge of your own work.”
At first, I thought that what he was saying was totally absurd. I knew what I was doing. How could I hand in a proposal that I knew was not going to be accepted? For some strange reason, though, his absurd advice gave me some confidence, and I acted on his word, even if my whole being was telling me that it was foolish. In two days, I received an e-mail saying that, save some minor typos, my proposal read excellent. They approved it immediately!
That day, I had the experience of verifying that I really do not know better, and that my “wisdom” and my “know-it-all” attitude, could betray me any time. I felt humbled in front of my friend, but at the same time very grateful that he had shared his “wisdom” with me. I believe that today’s readings refer to the experience I have just recounted.
Shared Wisdom
In the first reading, St. Paul tells the Corinthians that if they want to be wise, they are to become fools, since “the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God.” In other words, St. Paul is telling the Corinthians that God knows better! They consider themselves very wise, and, many times, they would question what St. Paul taught them. They were convinced that they knew better. It was only when they acted on St. Paul’s words that they felt the shame of realizing that he was right all along, because he was transmitting them the wisdom of God.
In like manner, the Gospel shows how Peter is invited to act on the word of Jesus, who invites him to lower the nets for a catch. Peter has been fishing his whole life. He knows his trade. Jesus was not a fisherman. Is it possible that Jesus knew better than him? Besides, he and his companions had spent the night, for sure, trying all the possible techniques there were, in order to catch a lot of fish. They had caught none! I believe Peter must have felt the same strange senses of confidence that I felt. And he says: “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” We know what happened next. They caught so many fish that the nets were tearing. Seeing Peter’s reaction, we can see that he verified that he was in front of God’s wisdom, made flesh in Jesus Christ!
Invitation to Trust
These readings are an invitation for us to trust that God knows better, and to learn to act on his word. God always provides someone; be it our parents, a relative, a priest, a friend, etc. whom he uses as an instrument to communicate to us His Word and His will. Many times, what they say can seem absurd to us, or it may contradict what we think to be the best course of action or the best plan. It is in those moments when we should remember these readings and discover, again and again that God knows better! Let us not be so quick to disregard His advice or His word, to follow our own ideas. Do not trust so much our thoughts and plans and consider them infallible and perfect. Let us allow ourselves to verify that God’s wisdom is far superior to ours, and that following Him and acting on His Word, will always lead us to experience the abundance of His graces. God bless you!!
