“Wisdom Given Generously and Ungrudgingly” by
Beth DeCristofaro
But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask
God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But
he should ask in faith, not doubting (1 James 1:5-6)
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue
with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the
depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I
say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.
(Mark 8:11-12)
Piety
O God, I thank you for your perpetual place
at my side in times of darkness, fear, and hurt. May wisdom clarify my life, Lord. I ask, Jesus, that you make of me a sign of
your healing and joy-filled self.
Study
How sad it was that the leaders of the
temple, time and time again, had the divine presence right in front of them and
did not see it, did not recognize him. Without the light of faith to guide me,
how often do I, also miss God’s presence because I look for it in human
terms: power, acceptability, familiar,
comfortable, social or financial standing, even belonging to the right
institution? James’ letter goes on to
state that suffering, humility, and lack of worldly ties, emboldened by faith,
enables one to recognize God.
The notes on 1 James in the NAB describes
wisdom as: “a gift that God readily
grants to all who ask in faith and that sustains the Christian in times of
trial. It is a kind of knowledge or understanding not accessible to the
unbeliever or those who doubt, which gives the recipient an understanding of
the real importance of events. In this way, a Christian can deal with adversity
with great calm and hope.”[i]
In a Gospel last week, a foreigner, a
Syro-Phoenician woman, argued with Jesus for her daughter’s sake. She did not argue to test him as did the
Pharisees in today’s Gospel. She was
tested in the suffering of her daughter and a wellspring of faith brought her
to the healer. Her faith, her wisdom,
her arguing illustrates for us the truth that God’s presence shines through
even in our suffering. Our suffering is,
in sanctified by it.
Action
A Sufi mystic
said, “God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open[ii].” The Pharisees would not allow their hearts to
break open, their ears to hear nor their eyes to see. God gives us a choice. God gives us an opportunity.
Is my
difficulty knowing what to do, or is my difficulty doing it? I ask for faith, ask for wisdom and enact
both.
Illustration: St. John’s Bible, “Wisdom” https://www.scu.edu/library/asc/exhibits/schneiders/
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