FRIDAY, FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
Wis 2:1, 12-22 Ps 34:17-21, 23 Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
LEARNING TO BE SEEKERS OF DIVINE WISDOM
Natural wisdom is the result of the natural ascent of the human intellect to knowledge and truth that comes to us through the process of perception and intellection. Divine wisdom, on the other hand, is the gift of the Holy Spirit given as a gratuitous gift, either for a particular purpose (charism) or for the sanctification of a person. Natural wisdom comprises of the wisdom of this world alone even when it is the result of a natural intuition, whereas divine wisdom is the knowledge of God and of eternity given exclusively through the means of a revelation. When natural wisdom is enlightened by the gift of divine wisdom, the perfection of knowledge and its concomitant search for truth is finally realised. Therefore, natural wisdom is not in any way contradictory to divine wisdom; rather, divine wisdom alone can complete and perfect natural wisdom.
The readings of today bring before us the limitations of natural wisdom and the disastrous consequences of depending exclusively upon it alone. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom tells us that our dependency on natural wisdom alone is deceptive and misleading for it fails to understand the wisdom of God, which is revealed through divine revelation alone. The Gospel too speaks of the limitations of depending exclusively on human wisdom for by it alone one will never understand the working of the Holy Spirit within.
Let us ask ourselves today: In a world that deifies and glorifies the capacities of the intellect and human wisdom, where do I stand as a Christian or as a minister of God? What kind of wisdom do I rely on for my choices, decisions and convictions? Natural wisdom alone or natural wisdom perfected by the gift of divine grace? Of course, the intellect is a gift of God to humans. Yet, do I allow the natural wisdom I possess to be enlightened by the gift of the supernatural virtue of faith?
Response: The Lord is close to the broken-hearted
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