Wisdom and authority

We understand through the readings from the RomanCatholic Lectionary today that wisdom is an attribute of God which has been celebrated by people from ancient times. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the type of wisdom for which the author of the Book of Sirach gives thanks today is that which comes after lifelong seeking and work to pursue Truth. Gifts of this wisdom are insight into the deeply loving motivation of God for our living and the mixed response which we exhibit to that Love as we know more and more about ourselves, our need for purification and our tendency to hold on to our ways of attempting to manage life for our satisfaction. The Gospel of Mark, according to Friar Jude, is a scenario in which Jesus cleverly uses the survival wisdom which is both necessary and valued in the Middle East then and now to turn the intention of the religious authorities to embarrass Jesus to a situation where they are unable to summon the wisdom to address His response to their question. As our journey continues we may find that the Wisdom of God is presented through events in our lives where we have been able to surrender our will to the direction of God and experience the vision which calls prophets and psalmist to praise.