His Excellency,
The Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Ph.D., S.T.D.
Diocese of Belleville
September 24, 2024, 9:00 AM Mass
St. Luke Parish, Belleville
Lady Wisdom
(This is the text as originally written. During the actual delivery, some passages were omitted and other comments were added spontaneously. Nota bene: This text has not been thoroughly proofread. Therefore, there may be errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation.)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
Lady Gaga is a name familiar to many Americans, even those not enamored of the pop diva’s music. “Lady Wisdom,” however, is all but unknown, even though she has been around for 2,100 years. Our first reading this morning is from the Book of Wisdom, in which “Lady Wisdom” is a principal character.
We are told “Lady Wisdom,” who should be loved and desired by all, was present at the Creation of the world and God is her source. King Solomon himself said Wisdom was more important to him than wealth, power, or even good health.
Some commentators say “Lady Wisdom” is a prefiguring of the Holy Spirit. Others say she is the feminine image of God. In the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we pray, “Mary, Seat of Wisdom!” During Confirmation we pray for the gift of wisdom. Still, most Catholics probably have never read the Book of Wisdom, and they have no idea of who this mysterious Lady is.
The Book of Wisdom, or the Wisdom of Solomon, was composed in Greek in Alexandria, Egypt about 100 years before the birth of Christ. The main topic of the book is “wisdom” itself. The book is addressed to government leaders, teaching them that they should seek wisdom in everything they do. The book teaches that we human beings must seek wisdom from God through perfect knowledge, so that we may know how to live a morally good life. Wisdom is described as a mysterious, feminine reality, dwelling with God from all eternity. The Book of Wisdom is not found in the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible, and most Protestant traditions do not include the Book of Wisdom in their Bibles. But it has always been part of the Catholic Bible, though it seems rarely read and poorly understood.
********
In our age of uncertainty, could it be a good time to seek out “Lady Wisdom?” Could she be asking us: Do you think God cares who won the presidential debate? Do you think God cares about how you vote in November? Does God care who is elected?
Some people think God definitely cares. After all, by His providence, God governs everything that happens in our world. Others think God does not care. As one person said to me, “I think God makes sure the lights are on and that there is running water. But the rest of it is up to us. God is not interested in the details.” What do you think? “Lady Wisdom” would seem to have her doubts about God’s interest in the details of our earthly lives.
How interested is God in the details of what is going on in our country and in our world? Last Sunday, for the second time in two months, there was an attempt to assassinate the former President of the United States. Was God concerned about that? Some Christians are convinced that God cared deeply. Indeed, they think it was an act of divine intervention that the former chief executive’s life was spared. God saved him in both instances to make it clear he is God’s anointed leader. Others are convinced that these were random events and God had nothing to do with them. They believe that God is not particularly interested in either of the presidential candidates.
“Lady Wisdom” might not take sides in this debate. She might say, “After these horrendous attempts of human violence, both candidates should issue a joint statement saying, ‘We deplore the immoral disregard for the dignity of every human life displayed by the would-be assassin, and we want to make it clear that we wish our opposing candidate no harm of any kind. We respect our opponent and all the members of our opponent’s family, wishing them only good as a fellow human being and a fellow American. We are not running for office wishing harm to the other candidate. We may attack each other’s policies and plans. But no one should construe from our words that we want our supporters to harm our opponent for whose wellbeing we pray each day.” But after 2,000 years, “Lady Wisdom” can only grieve that instead of seeking her precious gift of wisdom, human beings resort to violence.
********
I was recently in Manhattan and had the somber privilege of being present at the World Trade Center Memorial Service, commemorating the lives of the 3,000 people who perished on that terrible day, September 11, 2001, that changed our world. The permanent scars of grief were etched on the faces of survivors. “Lady Wisdom” surely weeps twenty-three years later in the face of gun violence in our schools and neighborhoods and war in Ukraine, Russia, Israel, the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
Pope Francis recently flew back to the Vatican after an arduous pastoral visit to the small Catholic communities in Asia. The 87-year-old Bishop of Rome, now confined to a wheelchair, departed from the practice of previous Roman Pontiffs of being silent about American presidential elections. Chatting informally with reporters, as he is wont to do, the Pontiff observed that American voters are faced with discerning which candidate holds positions that can be considered the “lesser of two evils.” The Pope said both candidates are “against life.” One candidate holds views that do not respect the dignity and value of innocent human life developing in a mother’s womb. The other candidate holds views that do not respect the dignity and value of the immigrant and the migrant desperately seeking to escape poverty, persecution, and suffering.
He then asked, “Which is the lesser evil? I don’t know. Each person must think and decide according to his or her own conscience.” Many American Catholics were surprised that the Pope did not simply state which position was, in fact, the lesser of two evils. He did not say, “Obviously, this candidate’s position is clearly the greater of two evils,” or, “Obviously, that candidate’s position is clearly the lesser of two evils.” Some Catholics would be happier if the Holy Father told them there is only one candidate for whom a Catholic can vote in good conscience. Other Catholics are grateful that the Pope realizes that Catholics weigh many different lesser and greater evils when they vote, choosing between flawed candidates.
Still, other Catholics may have preferred the Pope to remain silent rather than adding to the moral dilemma by charging each Christian to prayerfully discern whom they think is the best candidate. Others were reminded of one of Pope Francis’s favorite quotations of Christ: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” “Lady Wisdom” might be comfortable with a certain ambiguity in the face of a very difficult decision. She might challenge every citizen to dedicate themselves to search diligently, not merely for information or knowledge, but for true wisdom.
In what areas in your lives do you feel a genuine need for greater insight, greater depth, and greater wisdom? Surely, there are complicated decisions and crossroads in your life that would be illuminated by wisdom: a decision concerning a life work, concerning the possibility of marriage, concerning how best to place the feet of your children on the path that leads to wisdom, how best to live by the teachings of Jesus Christ in a thoroughly secularized world, how best to hold fast to your deepest convictions, even when those around you reject those convictions, and how best to exercise your civic responsibility on November 5th when you go to the polls, not so much as a member of a particular political party, but as a member of the Christian community and a member of the Body of Christ, charged with transforming the “City of Man” into the “City of God.”
As election day draws near, I recommend that you make some time to peruse the Book of Wisdom so that you might meet “Lady Wisdom.”
“Lady Wisdom shines bright and never fades.
She is easily discerned by those who love her.
She is quick to make herself known to those who desire knowledge of her.
Those who rise early in search of Lady Wisdom will not grow weary in the quest.
For you will find her seated at your door.”
-From the Book of Wisdom
Praised be Jesus Christ. Both now and forever! Amen.