I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
No one can come to the Father except through me. JN 14:6
My Soul's Beloved,
Wisdom is not a gift or a companion given to those incapable of recognizing her worth for she is a treasure given to those who are prepared to make any sacrifice that is demanded of one who longs to possess her.
Divine Wisdom is an attribute of God and a gift given to us by the Holy Spirit. God's wisdom directs our lives and when we listen to Him and give Him permission to do with us all that He wills, we will not stray from the path that leads to His Kingdom. Perfect peace is the fruit that abides in our hearts despite the hard and arduous road we must travel to reach it.
Wisdom is a gift given to those who like Mother Mary must say to God, 'I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done unto me according to Your will.' Only then will the Holy Spirit come upon us, the power of the Most High overshadow us and the Word of God will be conceived in us. Like Mary who contemplated the Word of God who became incarnate in her womb, we too must read the Word, contemplate the Word, meditate on the Word assimilate the Word, and allow the Word to imbue our whole being only then can Wisdom become our inseparable companion and lead us safely on our pilgrim journey from earth to heaven.
Wisdom brings up her own sons,
and cares for those who seek her.
Whoever loves her loves life,
those who wait on her early will be filled with happiness.
Whoever holds her close will inherit honour,
and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.
Those who serve her minister to the Holy One,
and the Lord loves those who love her.
Whoever obeys her judges aright,
and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.
If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her,
and his descendants will remain in possession of her;
for though she takes him at first through winding ways,
bringing fear and faintness on him,
plaguing him with her discipline until she can trust him,
and testing him with her ordeals,
in the end she will lead him back to the straight road
and reveal her secrets to him.
If he wanders away she will abandon him,
and hand him over to his fate.
PSALM 118(119):165,168,171-172,174-175
The lovers of your law have great peace, O Lord.
John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’
Wisdom brings up her own sons,
and cares for those who seek her.
Whoever loves her loves life,
those who wait on her early will be filled with happiness.
Whoever holds her close will inherit honour,
and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.
Those who serve her minister to the Holy One,
and the Lord loves those who love her.
Whoever obeys her judges aright,
and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.
If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her,
and his descendants will remain in possession of her;
for though she takes him at first through winding ways,
bringing fear and faintness on him,
plaguing him with her discipline until she can trust him,
and testing him with her ordeals,
in the end she will lead him back to the straight road
and reveal her secrets to him.
If he wanders away she will abandon him,
and hand him over to his fate.
PSALM 118(119):165,168,171-172,174-175
The lovers of your law have great peace, O Lord.
The lovers of your law have great peace;
they never stumble.
I obey your precepts and your will;
all that I do is before you.
they never stumble.
I obey your precepts and your will;
all that I do is before you.
Let my lips proclaim your praise
because you teach me your statutes.
Let my tongue sing your promise
for your commands are just.
Let my tongue sing your promise
for your commands are just.
Lord, I long for your saving help
and your law is my delight.
Give life to my soul that I may praise you.
Let your decrees give me help.
Give life to my soul that I may praise you.
Let your decrees give me help.
The lovers of your law have great peace, O Lord.
MARK 9:38-40
My Soul's Beloved,
My Soul's Beloved,
Like John, we too can jealously guard the gifts and treasures given to us and take offense at those outside our group or community whom we consider to be unworthy of doing the works that we believe are entrusted exclusively to us. You guard Your disciples against this unhealthy attitude causes division and distrust and is the work of the devil. We must rejoice when we see others doing good. To envy those who share the Word of God, the goodness of God, and those who do the works of God even if they do not yet possess the fullness of truth are on the path to finding it and ought to be encouraged.
Lord Jesus, may the goodness of my fellow Christians, their passion for the Word of God, and their sincerity in evangelizing encourage me to follow their example, and may I celebrate and focus on the shared truths of our belief rather than be critical and harsh of the things that separate us. Kindness, gentleness, understanding, goodness, and charity will always bear greater fruit than a disparaging spirit.
John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’