We are all foolish at times and need others to help us regain our footing and wipe the dust off our backsides when we have fallen flat on our bottoms. Even when we lack sympathy for peoples' predicaments we can still offer assistance because we are grateful to God for our blessings, grateful for the gift of wisdom, grateful for the people who have helped us in our foolish times. We can be compassionate even when we lack pity because we know that there but for the grace of God go I.

The first reading promises that Wisdom is readily available. Wisdom is a gift from God given to those who seek her, perceived by those who love her. Wisdom is just waiting to be tripped over, standing in our path, if we will but seek and notice her and ask God for the gift of Wisdom.

The Gospel calls us to live our lives prudently and to exercise common sense in our living in the world so we are not caught unprepared by death, natural disasters or by life. Wisdom does not depend on intelligence or IQ. Wisdom is a choice. It is a choice to do all it takes to prepare for the worst all the while hoping for the best. Fools only hope for the best and do not prepare for the worst. We are called with St. Augustine to pray as though everything depends on God and act as though everything depends on us.