Wisdom

Friday, May 23, 2008 -- Week of Proper 2

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 967)
Psalms 16, 17 (morning) 22 (evening)
Proverbs 8:1-21
2 John 1:1-13
Matthew 12:1-14

Living a whole life has more of a subjective quality to it than objective. When we internalize the values of God and personalize our relationship with the Divine, we are becoming what we worship. Outward practices, like disciplines of prayer, study and service, incline our whole being toward God's ways. With practice, life in relationship with God becomes habitual and natural.

It's like music. To learn to play the piano, you practice, practice, practice. Eventually, you can pick up a sheet of music and play it with natural skill or you can make up music without needing to read it. Sometimes the music seems to play itself, to come out of the musician, without the need of thought or great effort. The person is one with the music; the music is a subjective expression of that person's reality.

Proverbs offers a vivid personification of Wisdom as a woman. From the busiest place in town she invites all to attain her. Practice, practice, practice. Gain wisdom and knowledge. Act with integrity and righteousness. You will find Wisdom becomes a subjective, living reality, living with and in and among us.

The invitation to the spiritual life is an invitation to grow in such a way that the qualities of the Divine take on an inner, subjective reality. Wisdom becomes personal and real to us.

Second John picks up the themes of the first letter, calling the congregation into the new commandment: love one another. "This is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning -- you must walk in it." To walk in love is to abide in Christ. To walk in love becomes more than just following a set of objective commandments, it is to become Love.

In the Gospel story from Matthew, we see Jesus, the subjective, personification of Divine Wisdom. With great confidence he lives freely, free enough to interpret the practice of the Sabbath within the wisdom of mercy. He doesn't merely follow the rules that other, objective authorities have given him. He has internalized the qualities of love, mercy and wisdom to such a degree that he can interpret the needs of the moment with authority. Christians see Jesus as the vivid personification of God as a human being.

Wisdom tells us: Practice, practice, practice. Get Wisdom. With practice, we may internalize Wisdom so deeply, that she lives in us as a subjective expression of our own deepest reality.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas