The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to meditate on how we have sought and received wisdom particularly in dealing with opposition on our journey.
Wisdom and Authority
The reading from the Book of Sirach declares praise for God in Ben Sira’s pursuit of Wisdom.
* [51:1–30] This chapter contains two appendixes: a prayer (vv. 1–12) and an autobiographical poem praising wisdom (vv. 13–30).1
Psalm 19 praises God’s Glory in Creation and the Law.
* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11), toward which the psalmist prays to be open (Ps 19:12–14). The themes of light and speech unify the poem.2
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus’ Authority Is questioned.
* [11:27–33] The mounting hostility toward Jesus came from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders (Mk 11:27); the Herodians and the Pharisees (Mk 12:13); and the Sadducees (Mk 12:18). By their rejection of God’s messengers, John the Baptist and Jesus, they incurred the divine judgment implied in Mk 11:27–33 and confirmed in the parable of the vineyard tenants (Mk 12:1–12).3
Chas Kestermeier, S.J. ( from a 2007 reflection) comments that these men are, to a certain extent and on an official level, justified in asking for Jesus' authorization, but they should have been able to get beyond that to reach the heart of the question, as the crowds had already done.
Do we recognize Jesus' voice and follow him because we have known him? Or do we ask for proofs and explanations and reasonings before we accept him? Which did we come closer to doing when we fell into love and gave ourselves to merely human others? We need to pray in that simple manner that a very young child has in sitting with his or her parents, listening carefully and becoming familiar with their ways, learning to trust them. And in our prayer, let us ask that we learn to recognize and respond to the voice of our Father's Son, that we accept Him as our Shepherd and that we let Him gently teach us who He is and lead us home.4
Don Schwager quotes “Fearing the truth,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Fearing a stoning, but fearing more an admission of the truth, they answered the truth with a lie, reminiscent of the Scripture: 'injustice has lied within herself' (Psalm 27:12). For they said, 'We know not.' And because they had shut themselves up against him, by asserting that they did not know what they knew, the Lord did not open up to them because they did not knock. For it has been said, 'Knock and it will be opened to you' (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9). But they not only had not knocked that it might be opened, but by their denial they barricaded the door itself against themselves. And the Lord said to them, 'Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things' (Matthew 21:27; Mark 11:33; Luke 20:7). (excerpt from TRACTATE ON JOHN 2.9.4)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Sirach 51:12-20 suggests Sirach’s testimony encourages us to trust that we too can grow in wisdom, even as he gives us some clues for how to do it. First and foremost, we need to pray (Sirach 51:13). Second, we need to persevere. Finally, it’s important that we continue to acknowledge the guidance and wisdom that God has already given to us.
As you pursue wisdom, don’t forget that it’s a gift of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; 1 Corinthians 12:8). So ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with this gift each day. Then look for signs that God is granting you all the wisdom you need. “Holy Spirit, grant me wisdom to live a life that is pleasing to you.”6
Friar Jude Winkler connects the writing of Sirach to Greek thought on emanations from a transcendent God at the end of the universe. A clever response was thought to be a sign of Wisdom in Jesus time. Friar Jude notes that Jesus is a figure of Wisdom in the Gospel of Mark.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, offers the reflection of Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926) on the oneness contained in a piece of paper.
If we look into this sheet of paper even more deeply, we can see the sunshine in it. Without sunshine, the forest cannot grow. In fact, nothing can grow without sunshine. And so, we know that the sunshine is also in this sheet of paper. The paper and the sunshine inter-are. And if we continue to look, we can see the logger who cut the tree and brought it to the mill to be transformed into paper. And we see wheat. We know that the logger cannot exist without his daily bread, and therefore the wheat that became his bread is also in this sheet of paper. The logger’s father and mother are in it too. When we look in this way, we see that without all of these things, this sheet of paper cannot exist.7
The prayer, patience, and gratitude that builds our wisdom helps us use this gift in our ministry of love for all Creation.
References
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