“Whatever you ask, I will give you.”
No, that was not the voice of a genie emerging from a magic lamp; it was the voice of God speaking to King Solomon. Early in his reign, Solomon had gone to the high place at Gibeon where he offered sacrifice in the LORD’s presence on the bronze altar at the tent of meeting. Later that night God appeared to him and in essence handed him a blank check saying, “Solomon, fill in the ‘amount’ – I will give you whatever you ask of me.” So Solomon immediately blurted out, “I want a new Mercedes!” OK, that’s not what he asked for.
Nevertheless, consider the gravity of this stunning encounter: God, the one true God who created the universe, offers to grant Solomon anything – whatever he would ask. Now, in hindsight we know that Solomon asked for wisdom, wisdom and knowledge to govern God’s people. But how did he arrive at that decision? Did he deliberate? Did he consider other options? Riches? Treasure? Earthly glory? Defeat of his enemies? Long life? Now imagine yourself in the same situation – what would you ask for?
In the book of Proverbs we read, “The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; at the cost of all you have, get understanding.” Throughout the book of Proverbs and the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament, wisdom is given highest priority. Wisdom, coupled with understanding, is to be obtained “at the cost of all one has”.
Benedict M. Ashley, O.P., the late Dominican theologian and moral philosopher, composed a chart he called The Coordination of the Virtues of a Christian. The chart correlates the theological virtues, gifts of the Holy Spirit, cardinal and auxiliary moral virtues. Ashley places wisdom, a gift of the Holy Spirit, in relationship between the theological virtue of love and the cardinal virtue of justice. Wisdom is rooted in the love of God (1st commandment) and is expressed in the cardinal virtue of justice – loving neighbor by giving him his due (2nd commandment). Ideally then, wisdom comprehensively permeates our lives as disciples of Jesus.
In our second reading today from the Letter of James, the ‘Son of Thunder’ apostle gives us snapshot of wisdom and several of its multi-faceted qualities. This short passage is a marvelous meditation that invites us to examine our lives and measure our level of conformity to the image Jesus Christ, who is the Wisdom of God.
“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.”
Therefore, let us “get wisdom…at the cost of all we have”.
God bless
+Deacon Dave