Daily Reflection Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Readings can be found here.
Judith Schiavo

“O, Lord, great peace have they who love your law.”—Ps. 119

 

    Whenever I read the Book of Wisdom, I delight in hearing Wisdom with a feminine personification. There are several reasons for this—mainly because “Wisdom” is a feminine noun in the Hebrew language. It is the life-giving mind and heart working in tandem. We all received this theological gift in Baptism. Scripture scholar, Archbishop Luis Martinez, told us that, “The gift of wisdom gives to our souls the power to experience divine things, to taste them in the depths of our being and, by that pleasure and experience, to judge all things.” In other words, Wisdom enables us to perceive with the eyes and heart of God. Martinez’s description is also the basis for Ignatian discernment. Yes, Wisdom is a gift, but we need to develop, cultivate and live this gift. If we allow her, Wisdom unfolds naturally.

 

    In today’s gospel we read that Jesus’ disciples are confused about who should be driving out demons. Is this gift their own prerogative, or can others  possess it? Jesus assures them that anyone driving out demons in his name is doing good. I think that Jesus is reinforcing the fact that anyone cultivating a deep relationship with God has the wisdom to make right and just decisions. Possessing Wisdom does not necessarily mean we work miracles. She encourages us to view every person and situation through God’s eyes and heart. From that stance, we then choose to follow the plan Jesus gives us throughout the gospel, especially in the beatitudes and the works of mercy.

    

     Yes, Wisdom is life-giving. Through Baptism we possess this generativity within us. The question we pray over is how we practice wisdom in our daily interactions with ourselves, our families, our co-workers, those suffering physically and from prejudice and injustice. Through Baptism God called us to be doers of the Word. How does each of us live out Wisdom in our daily lives? Perhaps, we modify our motives, our attitudes, our giving of self in such a way that we generate a loving, peaceful atmosphere in our daily living. And maybe, it is the way we think, speak, and act.

 

“It’s not what you do, but how you do it.

It’s not what you see, but how you see.

It’s not what you say, what you know or achieve.

But it’s the presence, the presence you are.”

                                                                                                        --Jan Novtoka