First Reading:  Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4

A Question of Wisdom

Why is the “common wisdom” sometimes so wrong? Who are the truly wise in our society?

These verses represent a shortened version of a psalm written to Wisdom. Even though this passage was attributed to Baruch, assistant to the prophet Jeremiah, the style of this psalm indicates it was written in the second century B.C. in Hebrew. By this time, the Jews had absorbed the esteem given to the virtue of wisdom by the dominate Greek culture. In fact, many Jewish writers emulated the Greek notion that Wisdom had some sort of existence apart from God. (Later, Christian writers would identify Wisdom as the “Spirit.” Indeed, the largest church in the world until St. Peter’s was built lie in Constantinople; its name “Hagia Sophia” – “Divine Wisdom.”)

The author of Baruch tried to answer the age-old question the Jews had: why did God allow the Babylonian Exile and the destruction of the nation? Unlike the Pharisees who answered the question with a strict adherence to the Law, this author appealed to a lack of wisdom in the nation. Why did the Jews live as aliens in a world that had no life for them? They failed to follow the ways of wisdom found in the Law.

God created the universe through his wisdom. In fact, that wisdom seemed to saturate all creation. And, wisdom was his gift to his people through the patriarchs. The Law and the Prophets were merely outward manifestations of a much greater legacy. The promises God made to the patriarchs was wisdom itself!

So, why did God allow the Exile? The answer was simple. The people abandoned their tradition, their birthright, their God’s wisdom. Returning to the Law and hearing the Prophets was a step back towards wisdom. This virtue that had its own existence was the Law and the Prophets! Those who sought wisdom did so through the Bible. This was the glory of the people.

What is our primary spiritual virtue? Certainty of dogma? Psychological relief of forgiveness? Have we demoted wisdom as a religious virtue?

Where is wisdom in your personal hierarchy of virtues?