Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30
Theme: Wisdom versus Intelligence? Prayer is the Answer!
Life is a journey, which needs a compass or guidance. Normally, the two poles of this journey are birth and death. The book of Wisdom sees it differently: there is an after-life, which needs attention as well! The journey of life speaks to virtues and vices as the determinants of what an after-life will look like – recompense or compensation for a good or bad life.
A “compass” is a human machine, which helps navigate human journeys on different fronts – land, sea and air. Interestingly, human beings need to input the coordinates for their respective directions in a compass in order for it to guide them on their ways. This is a piece of intelligence – inter (between) + legere (lecture/reading): “intelligence” is the ability to discern what humans have put together. It is different from what God has put together, his requires Wisdom.
“I called on God and the Spirit of Wisdom was given to me” (Wisdom 7:7), from our first reading today, takes the dynamics on human life and journey to a spiritual level – to God himself. Just as intelligence is human, so is Wisdom divine. The human creators of compass display great intelligence by providing a wherewithal for human physical journeys; God does the same for human spiritual journey through Wisdom!
One tragedy with intelligence is that it helps the navigation of human paths without, often times, asking after the creator of the paths it navigates – the limitation of intelligence; but when it does asks, then, a great discovery is made – the need for Wisdom, the importance of God, is discovered. Our first reading concludes, “all good things came to me along with Wisdom, and in Wisdom’s hands are uncounted wealth” (Wisdom 7:11). Therefore, Wisdom and human intelligence can coexist!
Only a person who realizes the limitations of intelligence could ask the question in today’s gospel: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17), since the topic of “eternal life” relates to the language of Wisdom, the domain of God. The answer Jesus gives was least expected – “go, sell all you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me” (Mark 10:21).
“Then, come follow me,” begins a new saga – a journey with Wisdom not intelligence. While intelligence measures earthly wealth as sign of success, fidelity to God’s direction called Wisdom, is the true sign of success. “Come follow me” is an invitation to go where God himself is, not to where humans dwell, in intelligence! The presence of God is both Wisdom and eternal life. Unfortunately, the gentleman went away sad because he thought he couldn’t part with his earthly possessions – the tragedy of intelligence!
The blindness of intelligence comes from an excessive attachment to human ways, without regard for God’s ways or Wisdom. But our second reading today provides a caveat: “and before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account” (Hebrews 4:13). If “we must render an account” of our lives before a God who sees all we do, that will not be done on the basis of intelligence but Wisdom.
Solomon prayed for Wisdom and God gave it to him, so he may rule his people wisely. Prayer for Wisdom needs to be upon every tongue, in a world that seeks earthly success, and often forgetful of an after-life and divine judgment. May we be led from intelligence to Wisdom, as our sojourn on earth lasts!
Assignment for the Week
Could you ask for God’s Wisdom before taking any decisions this week?