On this Thursday after Ash Wednesday (Feria V post Cineres), Holy Mother Church calls us to deepen our Lenten journey by meditating upon the value of divine wisdom and the sacrifice required to attain it. The readings from Sirach 51:13-17 and Matthew 13:44-52 resonate deeply with this theme, urging us to seek wisdom with great diligence and to embrace the radical commitment necessary for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Sirach 51:13-17 – A Soul’s Earnest Pursuit of Wisdom
In this passage, the sacred writer recounts his ardent pursuit of wisdom:
“When I was yet young, before I went abroad, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer. I prayed for her before the temple and will seek her to the last. From the flower till the grape was ripe, my heart delighted in her.” (Sir 51:13-15)
These words reflect the soul’s longing for divine wisdom, an interior hunger that is cultivated through prayer, humility, and perseverance. St. Ambrose speaks of wisdom as “the highest good” and exhorts us to seek it with all our strength, saying:
“Nothing is more beautiful than wisdom, for she is the brightness of eternal light. Blessed is he who daily seeks her and allows his soul to be nourished by her sweetness.” (De Officiis, I, 6)
The imagery of prayer before the temple reminds us that true wisdom is not merely intellectual but is a gift of divine grace, to be sought in communion with God. The words of Sirach echo the Psalmist: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps 110:10, DR). St. Augustine, reflecting on his own conversion, saw in these words the path of his own restless heart:
“I sought wisdom outside, but she was within. I longed for her, but I did not yet understand that she could not be grasped except in humility and love.” (Confessions, VII, 17)
Matthew 13:44-52 – The Cost of the Kingdom
In today’s Gospel, Our Lord presents three parables describing the Kingdom of Heaven:
- The Hidden Treasure – A man finds a treasure in a field, sells all he has, and buys the field.
- The Precious Pearl – A merchant, seeking fine pearls, finds one of great price and sells all to obtain it.
- The Dragnet – A net gathers fish of every kind; at the end, the good are kept, and the bad are cast away.
Both the treasure and the pearl signify the Kingdom of God—Christ Himself, the Eternal Wisdom. But the striking lesson is that they demand total renunciation. St. John Chrysostom comments:
“Christ is the hidden treasure. To obtain Him, you must sacrifice all, even what is dearest to you, for He is the true riches of the soul.” (Homilies on Matthew, 47.2)
Similarly, St. Gregory the Great writes:
“The one who sells all he has and buys the pearl signifies the soul which, despising all worldly things, gives itself over entirely to the joys of the heavenly kingdom.” (Homiliae in Evangelia, 11.6)
This is the great call of Lent: to abandon lesser attachments, to detach from what is fleeting, and to sell all for the One who alone satisfies.
The parable of the dragnet, however, reminds us that judgment awaits. Just as the good fish are separated from the bad, so too will Christ, at the end of time, distinguish between those who truly sought His wisdom and those who remained indifferent. As St. Augustine warns:
“Let no one flatter himself; if you are in the net now, rejoice not yet, for the sea is still troubled. The time of discernment will come, and then the just shall shine as the sun.” (Sermon 81.8)
Lenten Application: A Call to Radical Conversion
This Feria V post Cineres is a time to examine our hearts. Are we truly seeking wisdom as Sirach did? Are we willing to sell all for the treasure of the Kingdom? This is the moment to reorient our desires, to renounce all that holds us back from Christ.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux reminds us:
“If you seek wisdom, seek first detachment. Love nothing inordinately, and wisdom will come to you like a bride to her spouse.” (Sermon on the Song of Songs, 85)
As we continue our Lenten journey, let us imitate the holy writer of Sirach in his zeal, the merchant in his sacrifice, and the wise householder who discerns the treasures of God. May the Lord grant us the grace to seek, to find, and to give all for the sake of His Kingdom.
Domine, da mihi sapientiam, ut te diligam! – Lord, give me wisdom, that I may love Thee!