Blog

My reflections for this week’s readings and gospel are focused on the First Reading from the book of Proverbs. The first reading talks about a woman who is valuable in many ways. She’s trustworthy, hardworking, and caring. This isn’t just about being a good wife, but also about being a strong individual. Her skills are practical; she can work “with wool and flax” and she helps the less fortunate. This paints a picture of a person who is balanced both in personal and communal responsibilities. The reading also mentions that real worth isn’t just physical beauty or charm but moral and practical qualities. It’s not just about being a “worthy wife” but a woman of substance or valor. This makes the message relevant beyond marital context, but as an example of the strength a woman (wife, mother, friend) can portray. The theme in this reading, I think, is an invitation to live in such a way that we develop and make the best use of the talents, skills, abilities, and gifts God has given us. Pope Francis has stated that ” God has given us so many good things, entrusting different talents to each of us. We possess a great wealth that depends not on what we possess but on what we are.”

All too often, especially in these present times, we look at our lives and see only the things we lack. We then yield to the temptation to say ” If only”— if only I had that job; if only I was pretty/handsome; if only I had that home; if only I had money and success, if only I didn’t have this or that problem. These words “If only” prevent us from seeing the good all around us. They make us forget the talents we possess. You may not have “that” but you do have “this” just as the woman in this reading realized and developed.

The Book of Proverbs praises the woman who is rich in love, whose value is greater than that of pearls. I was able to experience this as I was growing up in my mother (whose name was Pearl incidentally) . I knew she loved my father and my sister and me. She was a stay-at-home mom who trained as a nurse so would often be asked to look at someone in the neighbourhood that was sick to see if he/she needed to go to a doctor (back then you had to pay even to see a doctor). My sister and I had to straighten up our toys and she put on her red lipstick to be ready ” for Daddy to come home from work” . She gave us unconditional support as we made our waythrough high school and all its challenges. Then my father died suddenly (49 years old) and mom had to face many challenges. She learned how to drive a car (so she didn’t have to depend on someone to take her places). She had to use her nursing skills and go to work. She didn’t complain that because dad’s pension wasn’t enough to make a go of it and used her skills to make a good living and be a help as a nurse in a doctor’s office. After she died at her wake, my sister and I heard many stories/examples of what type of woman, friend she was to so many. It made us realize that she indeed was the strong woman we thought she was. Hopefully, many of you can reflect on the reading from Proverbs and see your own example of a woman of strength, resiliency, love that the reading illustrates.

I read a poster once that said ” A strong woman is both soft and powerful; she is both practical and spiritual. A strong woman in her essence is a gift to the world.” Harold Macmillan, former prime minister of England wrote: ” No man succeeds without a good woman behind him; wife or mother, or if it is both he is twice blessed indeed.” So, fellow women, let us hope and strive to be like the woman in the first reading. Let us use the gifts, talents, abilities we have been given for the greater good.

~Cathy Keirstead