15 March 2024

Let us see if his words are true,
and let us test what will happen at the end of his life;
for if the righteous man is God’s child, he will help him,
and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries.
Let us test him with insult and torture,
so that we may find out how gentle he is,
and make trial of his forbearance.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death,
for, according to what he says, he will be protected.’

From Wisdom 2:1,12-22, NRSV

A recurring theme in the Book of Wisdom is the difference between God’s wisdom and human wisdom. To many people, the way in which God’s wisdom was revealed through the person of Jesus makes no sense at all. The “godless”, as described by the author of this book, can only see that those who try to live by God’s laws are a nuisance to them and their way of life. The reading continues with a list of taunts that such people make against those who accept God’s wisdom. They want to test the virtuous man’s endurance and gentleness by treating him cruelly and condemning him to a shameful death. They want to see if such a man will be “looked after” and rescued from his enemies as he claimed he would be. Their words echo the way in which Christ was rejected and put to death and especially of the taunts of the Pharisees as Christ died on the cross. Christ did not escape from the clutches of his enemies and some would have regarded his death as folly. It is only through the lens of faith that we can make sense of Christ’s suffering and death and of what this gained for all of us.

• • Why do you think that some people can accept God’s wisdom whilst others are unable to?
  • Have you ever had to withstand taunts because of your beliefs – what helped you at such times?

Pray for those who are persecuted for expressing their religious beliefs – and for their persecutors.