February 22, 2017
Wednesday, Week Seven, Year I
O Lord, great peace have they who love
your law.
What advantage is there in embracing
discipleship? What does “wisdom” give us? Sirach
4:11-19 lists some advantages:
Wisdom “instructs her children and admonishes those who seek her.”
Disciples want, and get, input: both general instruction and insight into their
own failings. Those who want wisdom “love
life,” because they want to grow into more life, into “life to the full.”[1]
Those who seek wisdom “win her [God’s] favor” just by desiring to grow. But to be authentic,
desire has to pass into action. And only those who “hold her fast” through
perseverance will “inherit glory.” Perseverance is the measure of desire.
Still, wherever we are along the way, “the
Lord bestows blessings.” He rewards and helps us from the moment we take
the road of discipleship.
Discipleship enhances our life, but it
is not just self-serving. “Those who
serve her [wisdom] serve the Holy One.” We were created “to know, love and
serve God.” The first two are included in the third. When we try to grow in
knowledge and love we are serving God in addition to ourselves.
Discipleship is not a one-sided effort,
It is not just self-improvement. God is involved. “Those who love her [wisdom], the Lord loves.” Reading Scripture is
live interaction with God. “In the sacred books the Father who is in heaven meets his children with great love and speaks with them.” God has a special
love for those who love truth, and goodness enough to seek to grow in them. He
“fills them with life and goodness.” He “blesses them and makes them holy.”[2]
Those who “hearken” to what God tells them will “dwell in the inmost chambers” of God’s heart. Jesus said “Those who
love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with
them. The fruit of discipleship is union.
Ultimately, it is the perfect union of the “spiritual marriage” which St.
Teresa of Avila sees as the goal of a prayerful Christian life. But St. Paul
preceded her in this![3]
We need to decide, with faith, what we
will put our trust in to lead us to the fullness of life — here as well as
hereafter. Sirach says that those who
“trust her [wisdom]” to do this “will possess her.” St. Thomas Aquinas
defines wisdom as “appreciation for spiritual things,” and the “habit of
relating everything to our last end.” It takes wisdom to seek wisdom. We
experience it when we consciously, deliberately, deeply decide and choose to become disciples — to be “students” of Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate,
teacher of Truth and Goodness, the Way, the Truth and the Life. If we choose
this, not only will we possess wisdom; our “descendents too will inherit her.”
There is no greater heritage to pass on to our children.[4]
When we are “strangers” the path of
wisdom may lead us through “fear,” but it leads to “happiness.” Wisdom “tries” us until our hearts are “fully with her,” because God only gives
All for all.
Meditation:
Do
I truly want “wisdom”? Enough to become a disciple?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave your comments!