Reading 1
Sir 4:11-19
Wisdom breathes life into her children
and admonishes those who seek her.
He who loves her loves life;
those who seek her will be embraced by the Lord.
He who holds her fast inherits glory;
wherever he dwells, the LORD bestows blessings.
Those who serve her serve the Holy One;
those who love her the LORD loves.
He who obeys her judges nations;
he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers.
If one trusts her, he will possess her;
his descendants too will inherit her.
She walks with him as a stranger
and at first she puts him to the test;
Fear and dread she brings upon him
and tries him with her discipline
until she try him by her laws and trust his soul.
Then she comes back to bring him happiness
and reveal her secrets to them
and she will heap upon him
treasures of knowledge and an understanding of justice.
But if he fails her, she will abandon him
and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.
Ps 119:165, 168, 171, 172, 174, 175
Responsorial PsalmR. (165a)
O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Those who love your law have great peace,
and for them there is no stumbling block.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I keep your precepts and your decrees,
for all my ways are before you.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
My lips pour forth your praise,
because you teach me your statutes.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
May my tongue sing of your promise,
for all your commands are just.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I long for your salvation, O LORD,
and your law is my delight.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Let my soul live to praise you,
and may your ordinances help me.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Gospel
Mk 9:38-40
John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.”
Meditation: Sirach 4:11-19
“Wisdom instructs her children.” (Sirach 4:11)
Out of breath, the cartoon character has reached the top of the bare mountain peak. There a bearded sage sits cross-legged, waiting to answer his questions.
Isn’t it interesting that even comic strips portray our natural drive to seek out wisdom? Today’s reading from Sirach portrays this quest by describing wisdom as a person. The seeker must follow Lady Wisdom as one of her children. He or she must first be willing to embrace instruction and discipline from this Lady before finally finding happiness in learning her secrets.
For Sirach and other inspired authors of Scripture, this image of wisdom as a person was not a mere figure of speech. They knew that all wisdom ultimately has its source in God. So they pictured wisdom as one of God’s intimates—someone as close to him as his own breath (Sirach 24:3). And who is closer to God than his Son, Jesus, who not only offers wisdom to his followers, but is himself “the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24)?
Take a minute to reflect on your view of wisdom. How would you define it? Why should you pursue it? More importantly, do you look to God for this wisdom—even concerning finances, career development, or parenting? Do you think of Jesus as embodying wisdom even on these practical issues? He does, and he’s more than willing to share his wisdom with us.
Try going through this passage verse by verse and asking yourself whether you experience wisdom as Sirach describes it. For example, verse 11 states that “Wisdom teaches her children.” Ask yourself: When have I sought God’s wisdom? What “help” did I receive as a result?
As you grow in your relationship with the Father, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will taste the life of wisdom for which you were born. You will become familiar with what the Scripture writers describe. Jesus himself is wisdom. The more you come to know him, the more your life will be characterized by his ways and his insights.
“Lord Jesus, you chose what was foolish in the eyes of the world but wise in the sight of God. By your grace, enable me to grow in your wisdom. Come, Wisdom of God, and enlighten my life.”
No comments:
Post a Comment