Psalm 34.11-17│1 Kings 3.6-14│1Corinthians 2.1-10│Mark 4.1-9
Wisdom
Drawing of the Crucifixion by St. John of the Cross, c. 1550
From https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVeTzVSt1V1sPw4o26ZsxNMZf5vpVoeJXoQ2nekqyKvc2A0bGejPPDqRbI_U_XIBSg6fudghPRL6j3ciqJWVkruwAsjfVBab3PJ1jURik-vJJ0cS89uq2-3VucxsjOPi28KtY3cPkUcA/s1600/drawing-by-st-john-of-the-cross.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16045100
In
my bible the passage from 1 Kings 3 from verse 6 onwards is titled ‘Solomon
asks for wisdom’.
But
actually what he is quoted asking for is a discerning heart to govern
your [God’s] people and to distinguish between right and
wrong. Is this this same as wisdom?
This
got me thinking about definitions …. Is wisdom really mostly about being
able to tell right from wrong, seeing clearly what is good and what is
evil?
Our
lives are filled with choices, we live in the midst of many complex problems,
and there are many things we would like to be able to see and weigh up more
clearly. How do we take care of ourselves and each other in a
pandemic? Is this supermarket product more climate friendly than this
one… or should I buy neither? What should I do to build a more just and
inclusive society? Where do I find the balance between meaningful work
and necessary rest? The desire to know everything is strong, and
to be able to simply label everything as either ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. But
somehow few things in my daily life seem subject to such clear-cut
classification … and the risk of being overwhelmed by endless questions is a
real one.
But
maybe wisdom is not just the ability to sort right from wrong, maybe it’s not
just about knowing what is what.
The
Psalm for the day gives a helpful direction. The passage starts with the
invitation to learn, to gain insight Come, my children,
listen to me; I will teach you the fear of
the Lord But going further the instruction for
those ‘who love life’ is more active ….
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it
(v.
14)
Today
my prayer is for wisdom not only to know right from wrong … not just to know
good.. but to strive to do good,…. I pray for the wisdom to keep
questioning in action…. to seek peace and pursue it.
Mags
Bird
Editor’s note: Saint John of the
Cross was born Juan de Yepes y Alvarez, in Fontiveros, Avila, Spain in 1542. John was sent to a boarding school for poor and
orphaned children. He was given a religious education from a young age and
chose to follow a religious path. John became a priest in 1567. In 1572, John
traveled to Avila at the invitation of Theresa to become her confessor and
spiritual guide. He remained in Avila until 1577. While there, he had a vision
of Christ and made a drawing that remains to this day called, ‘Christ from
Above’.
(From https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=65).
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