Embracing the Wisdom of Ecclesiasticus
In Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 24:14-16, we encounter a beautiful personification of Wisdom:
“I grew tall like a palm tree in Engedi, like rose bushes in Jericho; like a fair olive tree in the field, and like a plane tree I grew tall. Like cassia and camel’s thorn, I gave forth perfume, and like choice myrrh, I spread my fragrance.”
These verses draw our attention to the profound beauty and pervasiveness of divine wisdom. The Church Fathers, such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, often reflected on the significance of Wisdom as a manifestation of God’s presence in the world. Augustine, in his work “Confessions,” emphasizes that true wisdom comes from God and is an intrinsic part of His creation, echoing the imagery of Wisdom spreading fragrance and standing tall in God’s garden.
The True Blessedness in Luke
Turning to Luke 11:27-28, we find Jesus’ words:
“As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, ‘Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.’ He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'”
This passage shifts our focus from natural to spiritual blessedness. The Church Fathers, particularly St. John Chrysostom and St. Ambrose, often emphasized that while Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is blessed, true blessedness comes from hearing and keeping God’s word. Chrysostom remarks that Jesus elevates spiritual kinship above biological kinship, thereby inviting all believers into a deeper relationship with God through obedience to His Word.
Synthesis and Application
On this Saturday after the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, the readings invite us to a dual reflection. Ecclesiasticus reminds us to seek and cherish divine wisdom, which, like a fragrant tree, enhances and sanctifies our lives. Luke reminds us that the ultimate blessedness is found in heeding and living according to God’s Word.
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his “Summa Theologica,” explains that wisdom leads us to the proper ordering of our lives towards God, who is the source of all goodness. Thus, seeking wisdom is an act of aligning ourselves with God’s divine will. Similarly, in “Catena Aurea,” Aquinas compiles the thoughts of various Church Fathers on Luke’s passage, underscoring the importance of obedience to God’s Word as the true path to blessedness.
Conclusion
As we meditate on these passages, let us ask for the grace to grow in wisdom and to live out the Word of God in our daily lives. By doing so, we follow in the footsteps of the saints and Church Fathers who have gone before us, drawing closer to the true blessedness that Jesus speaks of. Let us become like the fragrant trees in God’s garden, spreading His wisdom and living out His Word, thereby becoming a blessing to the world around us.