August 19, 2012

There are three texts we’ll examine this Sunday. The first is 1 Kings 3:5-14. Here, King Solomon prays for Wisdom. In the Jewish tradition, Solomon was the wisest person in all history. In a way, this passage introduces the Wisdom literature of the Bible; many of the proverbs and wisdom writings are attributed to Solomon. The second text is Proverbs 9:1,4-6. The book of Proverbs is a collection of short paragraphs about Wisdom and single verse proverbs (mini-sermons). In my opinion, Proverbs is one of the most underrated books of the Bible. In 9:1,4-6, the writer uses a rhetorical device to “personify” Wisdom. Interesting side note: in Hebrew, the word for “Wisdom,” “Chokmah,” is a feminine noun, as is “Sophia” in Greek. The New Testament lesson is John 1:1-5, 14a, and 6:51. Here, John associates the Greek philosophical term “Logos” with the Hebrew concept of “Wisdom.” In verse 14, John says that the “Word” became flesh and dwelt among us (Jesus). John speaks of Jesus as the personification of “Logos,” and in 6:51, we sacramentally take this bread and wine (flesh and blood) into ourselves so that it circulates in our veins. When we grasp (not only with our minds but also with our hearts) the awe and mystery of it all, worship becomes natural. In each moment, our very breath, our very existence, depends of this “Wisdom/Logos.” We can no longer take life for granted. The special witness of Christianity is that with prayer and communion, we can develop a personal relationship with the very “Wisdom/Logos” that orchestrates the universe.