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The BreadCast


Daily Exposition of the Readings for Catholic Mass...

as well as Prayers to the Saints on the General Roman Calendar (for the U.S.).  

From the books Our Daily Bread and Prayers to the Saints by James H. Kurt - both with imprimatur.

Jun 2, 2023

(Sir.51:12-20;   Ps.19:8-11;   Mk.11:27-33)

 

“When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom.

She came to me in her beauty,

and until the end I will cultivate her.”

 

Oh how Sirach speaks of his love, of the wisdom that is the light of his life!  He is “resolutely devoted to her” and does “never weary of extolling her.”  To his teacher he gives “grateful praise,” for he treasures her sweetness above all things.

“I will ask you a question.  If you give me an answer, I will tell you on what authority I do the things I do.”  So does wisdom speak.  So does the Lord inquire as to what is in the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees and priests.  But there He does not find wisdom’s radiant beauty; there He finds nothing, for these leaders are so empty, so pitifully vain.  Rightly do they say, “We do not know,” for there is no light in them – only the dark connivings of the world’s greed and pride.

And can wisdom answer him who has no ears?  Can she speak to those who do not listen to her voice whispering in their souls?  She does not engage in useless activity and cannot wed herself to those whose spirits are impure, whose hearts are not set on her fruits.  “In cleanness I attained to her,” Sirach happily declares, for he “purified even the soles of [his] feet” to find her.  But these men who weary so easily of her “great instruction,” who would so readily look upon the riches of this world, how can they taste her sweetness?  How can they gaze upon her infinite beauty…?

And so the Lord turns away from them.  He cannot tell them “on what authority [He] do[es] the things” they see displayed so powerfully before their eyes, for their eyes are blind and their hearts are turned against Him.  They do not wish to know the answer to their question; they do not truly seek wisdom.  And she does not come to those who do not desire “her secrets.”

“The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.”  In silence, in obedience, in humility and purity you will hear the Lord speaking.  And He will guide you to all His grace; and His name alone you will bless and praise.  What great profit you shall find if from your innocence you cultivate wisdom until the end of time. 

 

*******

O LORD, open our eyes and minds to your light,

that by the power of the Spirit

we might be formed by wisdom

into the image of your Son.

YHWH, send your wisdom upon us; let her make her home in us.  May we be distracted by nothing of this world as we seek her diligently and with a whole heart.  You will be faithful in giving her to us if it is she we truly desire.

The Pharisees could not know your wisdom, LORD, because your wisdom they did not really want.  They cared only for their positions and their goods and what people would say or do to them, and not at all for the truth.  And so the truth escaped them.  Wisdom will settle in with none who do not have an open heart.

O LORD, we recognize the authority of your Son, that all wisdom and power are with Him; indeed, that He is your only Son.  Let us delight in His words and give Him grateful praise for all He has taught and done for us.  More precious than gold is the light He brings to our eyes and to our minds, and the love that through Him makes its home in our spirits.