Wednesday of the
Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Kings 10:1010; Mark 7:14-23)
Abraham Lincoln was born two hundred and five years ago
today. Of all the American presidents he
is regarded as the wisest. In his second
inaugural address he displays a depth of wisdom that few political leaders anywhere
have matched. Rather than tout the
righteousness of his victorious side in the great civil war, Lincoln recognized
the whole nation’s complexity in evil and appealed to God for mercy. Promising “charity toward all and malice
toward none,” Lincoln gave direction to the enormous healing needed of all the
wounds the war inflicted. Lincoln capably
followed in the path of righteousness that Solomon sets in today’s first
reading.
The Bible Solomon the personification of wisdom. Not only does the Queen of Sheba make the
paean to his wisdom as the reading records, but he is associated with almost every
wisdom book in the Old Testament.
Solomon’s wisdom begins with the essentials—one must fear the Lord and
follow in His ways. In time love for the
Lord will replace fear and the need for law will be diminished, but for the
unruly majority of human beings, fear and law remain foundational.
The Bible almost implores us to seek wisdom. Unfortunately, many would rather be rich or
wealthy or young. Wisdom, however,
brings us happiness at every stage of life. Because it is such a favorable companion, it
is well characterized as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
