In Light of the Spirit of Feria IV infra Hebdomadam IV post Epiphaniam
In today’s liturgical spirit, as we meditate on the readings from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 and Matthew 19:3-12, we are drawn into the paradox of divine wisdom and the call to humility, particularly in contrast to the wisdom of the world. The Church, in her traditional cycle of readings, invites us to contemplate these truths, not merely as abstract theological principles, but as realities to be lived in the concrete struggles of our daily vocation.
The Wisdom of God vs. The Wisdom of the World (1 Cor. 1:26-31)
St. Paul reminds the Corinthians:
“For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble: but the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that He may confound the wise…” (1 Cor. 1:26-27)
This passage encapsulates the divine reversal so often found in Sacred Scripture: God does not operate according to the standards of worldly power or intellect. St. John Chrysostom comments on this passage, saying:
“Christ chose fishermen, tax collectors, and tentmakers, not philosophers or orators, so that no one might attribute the spread of the Gospel to human eloquence but to the power of God alone.” (Homily 5 on 1 Corinthians)
This is a theme woven throughout salvation history: God chooses the weak to shame the strong, the humble to overthrow the proud. This pattern is most perfectly realized in Christ Himself, who, though He is the eternal Wisdom of the Father, took upon Himself the lowly condition of a servant.
The significance of this lesson extends beyond a mere intellectual affirmation; it is meant to transform the way we live. The Church calls us to imitate Christ’s humility, to embrace our own lowliness, and to recognize that any true wisdom or greatness we may possess comes from God alone. As St. Augustine writes:
“God does not choose a man because he is already wise, but that he may become wise; not because he is already strong, but that he may be strengthened.” (De Praedestinatione Sanctorum, 2.5)
Marriage, Celibacy, and the Mystery of Divine Calling (Matt. 19:3-12)
In today’s Gospel, Christ is confronted by the Pharisees on the question of divorce. They seek to test Him, asking whether it is lawful for a man to put away his wife for any cause. Our Lord responds by directing them back to the original plan of God:
“Have ye not read, that He who made man from the beginning, made them male and female? And He said: For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.” (Matt. 19:4-5)
Here, Christ reaffirms the indissolubility of marriage, rooting it in the divine order established from creation. The sacred bond of matrimony is not a mere human contract but a covenant willed by God. St. John Chrysostom again instructs us:
“He leads them to the first creation, as though saying: God, who made them from the beginning, knew better than you what was good for them. If He wished them to be two and not divided, then no man should dissolve that which God has joined.” (Homily 62 on Matthew)
But Christ does not stop there. He goes on to teach about the higher calling of celibacy, saying:
“All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given… There are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.” (Matt. 19:11-12)
This passage, often overlooked, is a profound invitation to a supernatural way of life. Just as God chooses the weak of the world to confound the strong, so too does He call certain souls to renounce even the good of marriage for the sake of the Kingdom. St. Jerome, a champion of virginity, exhorts:
“He who understands the sublimity of virginity and yet chooses marriage, though he does well, has chosen the lesser good.” (Against Jovinianus, 1.3)
This teaching is not meant to belittle marriage, which remains a holy and sacred vocation. Rather, it reveals that there are different ways in which souls are called to holiness—some through the bond of matrimony, others through the sacrifice of celibacy. Each is a gift, given according to God’s divine wisdom.
Conclusion: The Spirit of This Liturgical Day
The unifying theme between these two readings is clear: God’s wisdom is not the world’s wisdom. The world sees strength in power, but God sees it in humility. The world sees marriage as a human institution subject to change, but Christ reveals it as a sacred covenant. The world mocks those who renounce all for the Kingdom, but God raises them up as lights for the Church.
As we meditate on these truths, we are invited to reflect on our own lives. Are we seeking the wisdom of God or the approval of the world? Are we willing to accept our own lowliness so that God may glorify Himself in us? Whether in marriage or in celibacy, are we living according to the divine order He has established?
Let us heed the words of St. Paul:
“He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:31)
May we embrace the wisdom of God, live according to His will, and find our true glory in Him alone.
Prayer for Today
O Lord, who dost choose the lowly and confound the proud, grant us the grace to embrace the wisdom of Thy Cross. Strengthen us in our vocations, whether in marriage or celibacy, that we may live according to Thy divine will. May our lives be a testimony to Thy glory, that in all things, we may say with St. Paul: ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who liveth in me.’ Amen.