A Reflection for Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Find today’s readings here.
It is the LORD; he created her through the Holy Spirit,
has seen her and taken note of her.
He has poured her forth upon all his works,
upon every living thing according to his bounty;
he has lavished her upon his friends.
Today’s readings offer a selection from the Book of Sirach, part of the “wisdom literature” tradition, though not included in the Hebrew Bible nor the Bibles used by many Protestant churches. Perhaps that’s why this book has always had something of an allure for me. Is there something mysterious about life to be learned from this poetic take on wisdom?
I think first of all, I am drawn to the imagery of the selection. Wisdom is personified, and if we look closely enough, we see that God has shared wisdom with us through his creation.
The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain,
the days of eternity: who can number these?
Heaven's height, earth's breadth,
the depths of the abyss: who can explore these?
Before all things else wisdom was created;
and prudent understanding, from eternity.
As I read this selection, and researched what to make of it, I was pointed to this line from the 19th-century Jesuit priest and poet Gerard Manley Hopkins from “God’s Grandeur”:
The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
Perhaps that charge is Wisdom.
I’m approaching what some would call a milestone birthday later this year, which is probably the demarcation point when one is no longer considered a “young adult,” at least in Catholic circles. I’ve been looking back on the decisions I’ve made, curious how both the seemingly small ones and more momentous ones have melded together to get me to where I am today. And with that passage of time, and the gift of being able to reflect on it, I do feel I’ve gained at least a little wisdom—though I’m hoping there’s much more to be had in the decades ahead.
With that in mind, this selection from Sirach offers me two pieces of consolation.
First, it is confirmation that there is wisdom to be gleaned. We read that God has “poured” wisdom upon all his creation and “lavished” it upon his friends. While life may feel tumultuous and unsure, I take comfort in knowing that we can at least share in God’s wisdom. It may take time, and effort, but it does help me to find meaning in the seeming randomness of life.
Second, I find comfort in knowing that we can access some of this divine wisdom by lingering in God’s creation. Grains of sand, drops of rain, heaven’s height. Of course only God, we are told, can make sense of Wisdom’s subtleties. But we are also told that we, as part of God’s creation, can share in this wisdom. And that wisdom accessible by interacting with God’s creation—hiking a mountain, walking along the shore, conversing with friends and strangers—serves as a helpful reminder that while our incarnate nature may present certain challenges, it is also truly a divine gift that connects us to God’s grandeur.
