Seeking God’s Wisdom in the World Today

In our world today, the catalyst igniting the search for the Spirit of Wisdom is oft-times sparked by unforeseen circumstances that bring us to our knees.  As Marianne Williamson guides “We go through challenging situations in order to evolve into people who can hold to our loving center no matter what the world throws us.”

The Wisdom Books of Scripture attest that we never face the trials of life alone.  God has been kindling humanity with divine Wisdom since before the beginning of time.  And in the New Testament, God’s unfailing love for the world is revealed in the coming of Christ.  “The Son of God has come and has given mankind understanding, so that we may know Him who is True (Jn 5:20).  Hence to truly know God’s truth, we must weave the golden thread that runs through all Wisdom teaching into our daily life.

In Making God’s Life Tangible in a Troubled World, Fr. David Keller explicates that “the human journey is a movement from bearing the image of God in our nature to becoming “likeness” of God through our manner of life.”  The beloved people of God are on a shared quest to answer his call to “turn the ear to the Spirit of Wisdom and apply the heart to understanding” (Prov 2:2). However, living in a fallen world relentlessly competing for souls makes the foot way leading to God’s Wisdom imperceptible. Yet, God sees every cunning technique and tempting condition the adversary assembles to reorient our attention on human wisdom rather than the divine.  St. Paul warns that “We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. We impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:12-14).

Hence, the evangelist wants us to know that only the Spirit of Wisdom that comes from above can open our eyes to see the never ending presence of God’s unfailing love.  Ultimately, the endgame in today’s world is to dismiss the Word of Scripture as mere myth.  Practicing a contemplative praying life, Wisdom keeps me protectively centered on God’s truth knowing that it is He who calls me by name (Isa 43:1).  Moreover, I am remain plugged into what God asks in return for the gifts of Wisdom. As Fr. Kelly affirms “The cost of discipleship is a willingness to live no longer for myself, but for God and what He desires for human life and the world.”

Ultimately, Paul’s final destination must be our own as disciples – to become Christ in totality (totus Christus).

Discover the Spirituality of Benedictine St. Hildegard of Bingen

Enumerating the spiritual gifts of St. Hildegard and immeasurable contributions to the Catholic Church is like counting grains of sand along the ocean shore.  Through her mystical experiences, she saw humanity as “living sparks” of God’s love, coming from God as daylight comes from the sun.  A Doctor of the Church and gifted musician, she guides me to “Observe the Father, who, in his Fatherly devotion reveals his shining brightness to the faithful.”  Her visions beautifully dovetail with Solomon’s kingly encounter with Wisdom.  In his words, “Wisdom is the reflection of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God” (Wis 7:26).

In my own praying life, I have come to grasp that the tiny “thought” droplets of wisdom God grants comes to me without connection to the world.  I must discern what God wants me to know and strive to walk by Wisdom’s grace in daily life.

Click here to listen to her beautiful music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6qFCYRQKVA&ab_channel=nicorobokun

We too can receive Wisdom’s gifts by simply entering the divine realm through spiritual prayer. God is not looking for heroes, but for the everyday person striving to walk in his Love.

Scripture is replete with an abundance of God’s Wisdom already revealed and just waiting to be discovered.  The Spirit of Wisdom is here now; ready to show how God’s hand makes the sun rise and holds the chambers of a broken heart together – at the same time.   As Solomon illumines, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. There is a time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest” (Ecc 3:1-8).  Though circumstances in an uncertain world will ebb and flow, God’s Wisdom remains eternally unchanged.

For the Christian, the Stakes are High

Life brings the promise of joy as well as tribulation that comes without reason or warning.  While human wisdom has its own merits, it can never surpass the power of Wisdom to discern and trust in the universal Lordship of Christ.  As St. Paul explicates “The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18).  Thus, it is imperative that we not sit idly on our hands and expect to receive Wisdom without actively seeking active participation in God’s nature (theosis).  Hence, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Prov 1:7).  When we pursue the Spirit of Wisdom steeped in the humility of St. Francis, we soon discover that she is an unfailing treasure, and those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God (Wis 7:14).

In closing, I begin each day contemplating my own answer to the question Christ posed to his disciples. Nearing the Cross, He spoke his Wisdom and many did not believe his words of life and left him.  From that time on, many of his loyal followers turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you want to leave too” (Jn 6:66-67)? 

This is the same question Christ asks of us.  The Spirit of Wisdom’s call is always at hand.  My task is to seek it every day and nourish whatever Wisdom makes known to me by grace.  As the beloved apostle James tells us “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives it to all men liberally and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed (Jm 1:5).

Hence, my response to Wisdom’s question echoes Peter’s answer “To whom shall I go Lord (in this new day)? Thou hast the Word of eternal life…” (Jn 6:68).  Moreover, my praying life has been so filled with divine illumination poured from many blessed wells of Wisdom’s living water.  Reading the great works of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, G.K. Chesterton and Dante Alighieri have enriched my spiritual life with Wisdom’s truth.  Most recently, one of her pearls came through the renowned Dr. Hedrick of St. Joseph’s College.  She guides that as “we pray to receive the gifts of the Spirit of Wisdom, we must also be willing to let go of the result – and that is really hard.”

How true. 

Indeed, we must be ready to release the tension of our own desired outcome and trust in the goodness of God’s will.  It is hard to know when to keep a firm grip on life or the time to let go.  The Spirit of Wisdom shows us how – at precisely the right time – every time.