The book, which is sometimes called, “The Wisdom of Solomon” was not written by Solomon who lived 1000 years before Christ, rather, the book of Wisdom was written just a century or two before Christ by an anonymous Jewish author who seems to have lived in the Greek city of Alexandria, Egypt, the world’s center of Greek learning at the time.
The title was not meant to deceive anyone, but to express the author’s admiration for Solomon and to claim to be a disciple and imitator of Solomon’s wisdom.
The book is a synthesis of ideas from Jewish religion and Greek philosophy and literature. Its main lesson is much like that of the rest of the Old Testament: we need to be faithful to God; when we are faithful, we are blessed; when we are unfaithful, there are consequences.
Today we read a passage that is often chosen for Christian funerals. Just from chapter 2 of the book, the biblical author is spelling out the eternal ramifications of faithfulness. Faithfulness, living by God’s wisdom, living justly, righteously, in a manner that gives proper obedience and honor to God, brings eternal reward: “the souls of the just are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them.”
Wisdom puts the sufferings of our lives in perspective. Yes, the just will suffer in this life, but for the faithful, that suffering is more like the refinement of gold in a furnace, than a sign of God’s displeasure. We don’t suffer simply because we’ve been disobedient, but because suffering endured for the sake of righteousness cultivates blessedness.
Wisdom also brings consolation. It helps us even see death in its proper perspective. Death is not the end. When a just, faithful person dies, we shouldn’t despair because they go to God.
The Gospel today contained a parable in which the Lord deepens our understanding of the Christian’s relationship with God. In this parable, the Lord explains that a slave does not serve his master because he hopes to be rewarded for it, rather, he serves because it is his nature to serve. So, too for the Christian. Our baptism makes us servants of God, and what motivates us to acts of service, isn’t simply the hope of heavenly reward, but because it is now in our nature to do so, as it was the nature of the Son of God to do the will of the Heavenly Father.
The Christian is elevated in nature, but now also bound, and at the same time freed, to live entirely for God.
May Divine Wisdom guide all of our actions this day, enabling us to live more freely for God in loving service of the Divine Will, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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For the U.S. Bishop gathering in Baltimore this week for their plenary meeting, for the Holy Spirit to govern their deliberations and conversations and given them courage and apostolic zeal for the true good of souls.
For an end to the violence and poverty that displaces so many people from their homes and homelands, and that migrants, refugees, and strangers in our midst, may know the kindness and compassion of our local Church.
That the Holy Spirit may raise up great saints in our own land, and give us missionary zeal for spreading the Gospel at home and abroad.
That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.
We pray in a special way during this month of November for all the faithful departed, for those whose names are written in our parish prayer book, all deceased parishioners and benefactors of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, and our deceased family members and friends, deceased clergy and religious, for those who fought and died for our freedom and for N. for whom this mass is offered.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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