“Jesus told his disciples this parable:

‘The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins

who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

Five of them were foolish and five were wise.’”

Like anything that is exceptional, wisdom doesn’t just happen. All of our lives contain the stuff of which wisdom can be made, but there are innumerable ways that we may get derailed from the path. Pride can lead us to believe that no one has anything to teach us. Fear of failure can prevent us from taking initiative. Disappointment can inhibit our motivation. Laziness can keep us from exerting effort. Comfort can lull us into complacency. These are just a few of the obstacles that can divert us to foolishness. There are many others. The first reading almost makes it sound easy, “Resplendent and unfading is wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her.” To love and to seek wisdom, however, are actions that move us to overcome the obstacles and receive wisdom as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom is not automatic. 

At the age of 18 and heading off to basic training in less than a month, I went to the old Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown Road to see the movie Dead Poets Society. Starring Robin Williams as a English teacher at a private boarding school for boys, it is a coming of age movie with a tragic ending. In one of the many iconic scenes, Williams takes his class to view the trophy case containing old photos of prior students at the entrance of the school. He has one of the students read the first stanza of the 17th century poem To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time by Robert Herrick.

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, 

Old Time is still a-flying; 

And this same flower that smiles today 

Tomorrow will be dying.

He then reminds these high school students of their mortality and introduces the phrase carpe diem (movie translation, seize the day). Without reviewing the original meaning of carpe diem in Horace’s 2,000 year old poem, the various philosophical interpretations of this through time, even verging on hedonism, or a more modern appropriation of it as YOLO (you only live once), Williams ends his quirky exercise by whispering the words, “Make your lives extraordinary.” 

At that point in my life, the flames of passion, achievement, and excellence were stoked. I wanted nothing more than for my life to be extraordinary. Many things have changed, but that desire remains in some way. Even though I recognize the value of and, at times, yearn for a simple and ordinary life, that can be imbued with extraordinary love. A life lived to its fullest potential with generosity, holiness, and sacrificial service is extraordinary. To love and to seek wisdom as a gift of the Holy Spirit is not common. It is exceptional and extraordinary. It is worthy of the effort. Even the effort is a gift of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is, in a sense, the breath of God. Spiration is an almost obsolete word for breathing and has the technical theological meaning of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son. We are inspired by God to seek and to love wisdom. We aspire to grow in wisdom or to be wise. It is all the action of God, just like breathing, but don’t let time slip away. Overcome the obstacles. Seize the day. Receive the gift. In wisdom and in love, make your life extraordinary.