PURIFICATION FOR UNION WITH WISDOM

SUNDAY, TWENTY EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Wis 7:7-11; Ps 90:12-17; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30

Desiring Union with Wisdom

The first reading from the Book of Wisdom is Solomon’s appreciation of Wisdom as the most important gift of God. We must take these words of King Solomon very seriously because God endowed him with many gifts, and he singled out Wisdom for praise and exaltation. We must listen to him and take his words to heart. First, we learn that we must pray to God for the gift of Wisdom. By this, we understand that Wisdom is a gift we must ask God himself. Thus, the scripture tells us that wisdom begins in the fear of God. This heavenly gift will not find its way into our hearts if we do not regard God and give him the first place in our lives. The home of folly is in the hearts of those who do not know God as their Maker. Hence, the fool says in his heart that there is no God. This senseless conviction must be established in a heart for folly to make her home in such a heart. For every foolish and sinful action comes from this confusion. So, the recognition of our Maker sets us on the path of wisdom, and our request for wisdom from God is the most suitable prayer at the beginning of our youth.

Again, Solomon prayed for Wisdom from God, understanding her priceless worth for his journey and role as the king of Isreal. He also testifies in the passage that God does not deny us this necessary gift. “I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones; compared with her, I held riches as nothing.” One who prays so earnestly for this gift already indicates he is born of God. We see the confirmation in the alleluia verse where Jesus praised the Father for revealing the kingdom's mysteries to mere children. The indication of our adoption by God is the knowledge of the mysteries of heaven. So, heavenly Wisdom dwells in the hearts of children already adopted by God. The knowledge of these mysteries is the presence of God in a soul. Thus, Solomon prefers Wisdom to every creature. “I love her more than health or beauty, preferred her to the light, since her radiance never sleeps. In her company all good things came to me, at her hands riches not to be numbered.” In the Old Testament, the expression of Wisdom is the Law or Decalogue. Since the purpose of the Law was not for the perfection of human persons, Solomon’s inability to keep the Law of God made him lose sight of Wisdom along the way of life. So, the Psalmist asks God to make us understand the shortness and weakness of our life so that we may hold Wisdom through life. “Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.”

The knowledge of the fleeting nature of our life makes us seek the life that endures forever, which our steadfast walk with Wisdom would endow us. The man who ran to Jesus Christ as he was setting out on a journey expressed his desire for eternal life. “Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” The man already possessed Wisdom, he was concerned about keeping the company of Wisdom till the end, for his response to Jesus’ instruction to keep the commandments shows this. ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.’ He needed to be one with Wisdom of heart as the Psalmist prayed. The knowledge of created goods as empty and fleeting is necessary for us to love God in the Dawn or Beginning. Hence, Jesus advised him to sell everything and come to the Beginning. “Go and sell everything you own and give the morning to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” He went away because he lacked the wisdom of heart.

To fall in love with Wisdom and be married to Him, we must come to the Dawn or the Beginning of our salvation, the humanity of Jesus Christ, in whom we know the love of God. The process leading to the marriage of the Lamb is what the letter to the Hebrews presents to us. Our dwelling with the word of God is a period of purification through which we are made worthy of union with Eternal Wisdom. “The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts.” The Lord included the affliction we must pass through, though with the consolation of divine Wisdom, before we finally unite with him in heaven. “I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, …--not without persecutions—now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.” The eternal Wisdom proves us to make us worthy of union with him.

Let us pray: May your grace, O Lord, we pray, at all times go before us and follow after and make us always determined to carry out good works guided by Eternal Wisdom.