Proverbs 9

It's a tale of two invitations that we have before us. And they both begin the same way: "Let all who are simple come in here."

The first house is strong and stable. The food there is healthy and good home cooking. The hostess is kind and hard-working. You walk into the home, drawn in by the smell of good food. The party inside is nothing fancy, there is a big table with plenty of chairs. You sit down at the table, and good food is put before you. As you eat, the hostess (Wisdom) gets up and gives a toast. The toast is to the way of understanding, the way of God. As you listen, you find that you are hungrier for her words than you are for the food. And each sentence feels like a bite of prime rib filling the stomach.

The second house is not so sturdy. In fact, it looks rundown like no one has cared for it in years. But it's the perfect place for a party. When you step inside, the party is already well under way. At this party, the food tastes amazing. Whatever you want, you can have, if only you eat all of it. Pound after pound and gulp after gulp of amazing food and drink fill your stomach. Folly, the hostess at this party, makes no speech. She is too busy partying with the rest of the guests. Time ticks by as everyone fills up on stolen food and delicacies. But after a while, you realize that you have eaten too much. You ache, but Folly keeps bringing the food out. Suddenly, the world where you can have whatever you want in whatever quantity you want doesn't seem so good.

Praise be to God that, although we have all spent time in Folly's world of self-seeking desire, that God does not lock the door to this house. Indeed, through Jesus Christ, we are granted the grace to find healing from Folly's stolen meals and guidance to Wisdom's door. May we hang on the words of Wisdom like a choice meal.