"The children of Wisdom."  

 

St. Hildegard of Bingen, virgin and doctor

St. Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor

 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

1 Timothy 3:14-16

I give you these instructions, although I hope I will see you soon. If I delay,

you will know how you ought to conduct yourself in the household of God,

that is, the Church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

How great, indeed, is the mystery of divine blessing!

He was shown in the flesh and sanctified by the spirit; presented to the angels and proclaimed to all nations.

The world believed in him: He was taken up in glory!

 

＊＊＊Gospel＊＊＊

Luke 7:31-35

And Jesus said, "What comparison can I use for the people? What are they like?

They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain,

'We piped you a tune and you wouldn't dance; we sang funeral songs and you wouldn't cry!'

Remember John: he didn't eat bread or drink wine, and you said, 'He has an evil spirit.'

Next, came the Son of Man, eating and drinking; and you say, 'Look, a glutton for food and wine,

a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But the children of Wisdom always recognize her work."

 

＊＊＊Reflection＊＊＊

"The children of Wisdom."

Jesus is both described as Wisdom and Word.

The Greek term Logos – the Word – became the more popular of the two in Christian preaching and teaching,

but the Hebrew notion of Wisdom shares many similarities with Logos as the divine agent of creation who dwells with God "from eternity" (Prov 8:22-31).

Jesus applies this notion to himself when he describes his disciples as "the children of Wisdom."

In his reflections on Our Lady, Saint Robert Bellarmine described Jesus as "divine wisdom incarnate,"

who was carried by Mary in her womb and on her lap. This carrying and bearing of Christ provides the basis for one of Mary's titles,

which is ‘Seat of Wisdom’. She becomes a throne for the One who is Wisdom.

Her intimate union with God leads Mary to become full of wisdom and full of grace, says Saint Robert. Likewise,

we are to draw near to the Lord, so that we might learn from him and that his creative wisdom might transform us.

It is from Christ we learn how to live, how to "conduct ourselves" in the communion of the Church, so that we live life to the full.