16 November 2023

She is more beautiful than the sun,
and excels every constellation of the stars.
Compared with the light she is found to be superior,
for it is succeeded by the night,
but against wisdom evil does not prevail.

She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well.

From Wisdom 7:22-8:1, NRSV

In today’s reading, the writer deals with the nature of wisdom. Wisdom is described as if a person and her wonderful and impressive attributes are praised. This was an author who was aware that amongst the audience would have been people who were susceptible to some of the pagan ideas that were prominent at the time. He deliberately uses words and images that were associated with Isis – the pagan goddess of wisdom – but wants his audience to know that the attributes he describes actually belong to the Divine Wisdom. The description he gives makes this Divine Wisdom seem almost like God whilst somehow not totally the same.

• • Why do you think the writer links the attributes and actions wisdom so closely with those of God?
  • How do we recognise and value wisdom – in ourselves and in our communities? 

Pray for those whose wisdom has enriched your life.