Today, in the First Reading, we encounter Wisdom. Sophia. The images of Wisdom—a strong, beautiful, resplendent woman—have always appealed to me. But I’m not particularly wise.

I spend a lot of time trying to convince people that, Yes, I am an expert who fully understands everything I have going on. I have goals and expertise and a thorough understanding of how the world works and what role I play in it.

But most of the time, it feels like someone has asked me to answer multiplication facts while I’m spinning plates, and I have never even tried to spin one plate, much less two, and I’m trying to concentrate on those not shattering while looking like a total idiot because I can’t concurrently answer 6x4 and I’m worried if I say, “Hold on while I spin these plates,” I’ll immediately drop the plates while still not being able to do mental math and that’s just embarrassing.

Not Sophia. With wisdom, we become free from these more shallow concerns. So often, my worries arise because I don’t prepare for the right outcomes. I'm not ready. I don’t think enough about it. I don’t factor in enough time. I oversleep.

Sophia is prepared. She has made the time. She has noted what’s important. Sophia embodies the wisdom to identify what is important and leave the rest behind.

What’s important? Christ. The things that are occupying my mind and keeping me from God? I need to let them drop. The concerns cluttering my brain and pulling me out of prayer? I need to let them float away.

Then I can prioritize, I can begin to embody wisdom and the wise virgins. (Matthew 25:4) Saint Paul would say these virgins awaiting the bridegroom with their lamps at the ready are alive in Christ—full of hope and not grief.

I will be at the gate when He arrives. I will surround myself with those who do the same, as the woman in Wisdom and the wise virgins do. My work will be done, and I will be at ease.

[bctt tweet="Let's be alive in Christ—full of hope and not grief. // @br1gid"]

Pray for an increase in wisdom today.

Brigid Hogan is a high school English and ESL teacher who lives in northeast DC. She is passionate about Catholic social teaching and tries to live it out daily in her relationships and community. Most of her pleasures are guilty ones like television, burritos, and Twitter. Find out more about her here.