Seeking Wisdom (32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time)

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In the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament, one of the recurring themes is the importance of obtaining wisdom. The reader is encouraged to make the attainment of wisdom one of the most important goals in life. All other goods flow from this attainment. A great example of this is the story of King Solomon, who asked God for wisdom, and was rewarded with both that and prosperity and long life (cf. 1 Kings 3). The results of having wisdom are enumerated in the passage immediately following our reading, which states thus:

The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction,

and concern for instruction is love of her,

and love of her is the keeping of her laws,

and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality,

and immortality brings one near to God;

so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom. (Wisdom 6:17-20)

But how does one obtain wisdom? In Proverbs 1:7, we are told what the most important key to obtaining wisdom is: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Since all wisdom and knowledge ultimately come from God, then we should seek it from Him and revere Him in our lives. In addition, in Wisdom 16:17 above, we are told that the first step is to sincerely desire instruction, for one cannot attain what one is not willing to work towards.

After this, there are two activities that we must remain attentive to in order to attain wisdom. The first is prayer. We cannot obtain wisdom unless we pray regularly, turn to God and ask for it. As James 1:5 states: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

The second is reading Scripture. The Psalmist talks about how meditating upon Scripture made him wise:

Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
for I keep your precepts. (Psalm 119:97-100a)

In reading Scripture, we must conform our understanding to the teaching of the Church, to whom the Lord gave the authority to bind and loose (Matthew 16:19, 18:18). As Christ Himself stated: “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16).

Thus, if we are to be wise, we should keep these at the forefront of our minds and practice them in our daily lives. In so doing, we will obtain all the benefits of wisdom, the most important of which is the knowledge that leads to eternal life.

J. Luis Dizon