Word of the Week

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Prudence: Prudentia (L.): meaning "foresight, sagacity", contraction of providentia, which communicates having foresight. Behind this term conveys a sense of wisdom to see what is virtuous, or what is suitable or profitable.

Prudence is the cardinal (moral) virtue of the intellect that disposes the person to distinguish the good and choose the “correct means to accomplish it” (CCC 1806). It also acts as a compass to the judgment and pronouncement of conscience. Prudence is the practical virtue that constantly practices the presence of God in all circumstance. Prudencenavigates all other moral virtues as it puts into order the life of the Christian to follow the law and way of Jesus Christ (CCC 1806).

Prudence is found in Sacred Scriptures 27 times, all in the Old Testament. In antiquity, prudence was synonymous with wisdom of speech and action (1 Sam.16:18; Wis.8:7; Sir.21:25, 22:27). It is treated as wisdom’s beloved, constantly calling wisdom to sit and dwell with her (Prov.8:12). Ultimately, this great virtue of discretion was seen as the moral counselor leading to the ways of the Lord (Prov.19:25; Dan.2:14). Although this virtue was not spoken of directly in the New Testament, you often find her kin throughout the Gospels and writings of the early Apostles as they speak to the need to “keep sober in prayer” (1 Pet.4:7; cf. 1 Thes.5:5-8). Furthermore, Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, exhorts the people to become a community of prayer so that they may grow in “knowledge and discernment” (Phil.1:9).

Prudence has the foresight to see what the higher good
is to avoid evil. It sees the potential of the “not yet realized”. Prudence reveals God’s fatherly care and his provisionary grace that enables us to live in a more stable relationship with Jesus Christ. It engages us into a never-ending pursuit of the heights of Christian love. Prudenceis the perception that gives us acute awareness to see the father’s will.

During this Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, we ought to reflect upon the abilities that God has equipped us with in the larger context of prudence.  Personal diligence and care, i.e. prudence, are needed to cultivate the gifts and talents that God has granted us to build up his kingdom here on earth. We can be assured of our heavenly earnings when we value the net worth of our dowry as God’s own life that we ought to share with the world (cf. Mt.25:14-30). Our talents are God’s endowment and they are only ‘suitable and profitable’ in light of the Giver!

“Prudence looks two ways…cognitive and deciding for the good.”

--Joseph Pieper

Primary Texts Consulted

•  Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
•  Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997.

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