(In the spirit of S. Bernardi Abbatis et Ecclesiæ Doctoris)
The sacred liturgy on this day presents us with a beautiful harmony between the Old Testament praise of holy wisdom and the New Testament charge to be salt and light in the world. In Ecclesiasticus 39:6–14, the wise man is portrayed as one who prays for wisdom, meditates on the law of the Most High, and pours forth instruction as rain upon the earth. In the Holy Gospel (Matt. 5:13–19), Our Lord teaches that His disciples are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” called to preserve, to illumine, and to fulfill—not abolish—the law and the prophets.
Wisdom from Above (Ecclus. 39:6–14)
The inspired writer of Ecclesiasticus extols the man who applies his soul to the study of the divine law. “He shall open his mouth in prayer, and shall make supplication for his sins. And if it shall please the great Lord, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding” (v. 6–7).
Here we see a pattern: humility before God, prayer, repentance, and then the gift of wisdom. St. Augustine comments that true wisdom is not self-made but received: “For the wisdom of man is piety; that is, the true worship of God.” (De Civ. Dei, XIX.19). The wise man does not boast of his knowledge, but as Solomon prayed, so does he beg for the gift of understanding.
St. Gregory the Great observes that when the wise man is “filled with the spirit of understanding, he shall pour forth words of wisdom” (Moralia in Iob, II.49). Knowledge is not for self but for the edification of the Church; wisdom is fruitful, like rain that waters the parched land.
Salt and Light (Matt. 5:13–19)
Our Lord then speaks to His disciples: “Vos estis sal terræ … Vos estis lux mundi.” Salt preserves from corruption; light dispels darkness. St. John Chrysostom remarks: “It is not for your own life only, but for the whole world, that the word is committed to you. I have chosen you as teachers not only for Palestine, but for the whole world.” (Hom. in Matt. XV.6).
Salt is hidden within, yet its savor is known; light shines outward, manifest to all. Thus the Christian life must have both interior holiness (rooted in wisdom, as Sirach teaches) and exterior witness (as Christ demands). If salt loses its savor—if Christians lose their fervor and holiness—they are cast aside. Likewise, a hidden lamp benefits no one; faith is meant to shine before men, not for vainglory, but ut glorificent Patrem vestrum qui in cælis est.
Fulfillment, Not Destruction
Our Lord insists: “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” In Christ, the law and the prophets find their completion. St. Irenæus teaches: “The Lord did not abrogate the natural precepts of the law, but extended and fulfilled them. By giving us in Himself the image and likeness of the Father, He revealed and taught us the perfection of justice.” (Adv. Hær., IV.13.1).
Here lies the deep continuity with Sirach: wisdom is rooted in God’s law. The Christian, then, is not freed from the law but elevated into its true meaning, interiorized by grace, and made fruitful by the Spirit.
The Spirit of St. Bernard
How fitting, then, that Holy Church places these readings on the feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor mellifluus. Bernard’s own life embodied this twofold call: contemplative wisdom drawn from Scripture and prayer, and a powerful witness as “salt” and “light” in the world, defending the faith, guiding Popes, and enkindling devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus.
St. Bernard himself once wrote: “If thou art wise, thou wilt show thyself as a reservoir, not as a canal. The canal pours out as fast as it takes in; the reservoir waits until it is filled, then overflows, without loss to itself, and communicates its superabundant water.” (Serm. in Cant. 18.3). Here we see Sirach’s rain pouring down, and the Gospel’s lamp shining forth—the model of true Christian wisdom and witness.
Conclusion
Ecclus. 39 and Matt. 5 together remind us: we must first seek wisdom in prayer, humility, and repentance, allowing ourselves to be filled by God. Then, as salt and light, we must season and illumine the world around us, preserving the faith and shining with works of charity. This was the path of St. Bernard, monk and doctor, contemplative and apostle. May we, like him, become reservoirs of divine wisdom, overflowing with the savor and light of Christ for the glory of the Father.