13 November 2023

Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth,
think of the Lord in goodness
and seek him with sincerity of heart;
because he is found by those who do not put him to the test,
and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him.

From Wisdom 1:1-7 NRSV

In today’s First Reading we begin reading from the Book of Wisdom. This text is considered to have been written some fifty or so years before the coming of Christ and with the purpose of bringing enlightenment during a time of oppression and suffering. The pursuit of wisdom is still something that is widely written about with no shortage of “self- help” books which promise the reader all sorts of ways in which to gain wisdom. Yet the author of this book makes it clear that wisdom is not something we can attain through our own study and efforts. Rather, wisdom is seen as being of God and that God shares wisdom with those who try to act in harmony with God by doing what is right.

• What do you think the author meant in saying “seek him with sincerity of heart”?
• How is God’s wisdom different from earthly wisdom?

Pray for the grace to trust in God and to accept the limits of your own understanding.