5th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - The Wisdom of Solomon

 Wisdom. The importance of wisdom runs throughout our readings today.  The queen of Sheba traveled from far off lands to seek Solomon’s Wisdom.  In the responsorial psalm we repeated, “the mouth of the just murmurs wisdom”.  In the Gospel, Jesus very wisely teaches that it is not particular foods which makes a man unclean, rather, it is the failure to make moral choices.

One of my favorite lines from that great advent song, O Come O Come Emmanuel, is the one about Wisdom: “O Come Thou Wisdom from on High, who orders all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go”

In the first reading, Solomon is praised for his wisdom, but where did his wisdom come from? Earlier in the book of Kings, there is a story where God appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God tells Solomon, I will give you whatever you want. And Solomon says, my father David was a good man and tried to serve you Lord. Compared to my father, I’m just a little child and don’t know how to carry out my duties as king. So, Lord, give me a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. 

And we know how Solomon goes on to govern with justice, and sound judgment, he resolves disputes with insight that pierces to the heart of the matter. But where did his wisdom come from? Solomon humbly acknowledged his limitations, and sought to conform his mind and heart and decisions to that of God. He ordered his life according to the will of God. That’s the great scriptural lesson.

In the Psalm we heard how the heart of the just man is focused on the law of God. You want to be wise? Ponder the law of God, seek to understand the law of God—not just what the church teaches, but why she teaches it. The wise man ponders, he meditates on the law of God day and night, so that God’s law can permeate his life—his words and deeds and decisions. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours helps with this especially, praying the psalms at morning, noon, evening, and night fills our day with the word of God that we might grow in wisdom. 

Wisdom helps us to order our life, so it remains oriented toward heaven.  May our lives be wisely ordered that we may remain on the path that leads to God in our speech, thoughts, and decisions for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.

That all of our leaders, in the Church and in government, may be guided by Holy Wisdom and govern with just and discerning hearts.

For the conversion of all those who have fallen into serious sin, for a return of fallen away Catholics to the Sacraments, and that all young people may be protected from the perversions of our culture.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief.

For ourselves and our own community, that the Lord may graciously receive us as a sacrifice acceptable to himself.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.