DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Friday, December 14, 2007
Nativity Fast
Martyrs Thyrsos, Leukios
& Kallinikos
Kellia: Sirach 14:20-15:6
Epistle: Hebrews 7:18-25
Gospel:
Wisdom: Sirach
14:20-15:6 LXX, especially vs. 20: “Blessed
is the man that doth meditate good things in wisdom.” Fear of the Lord within the heart is an
indispensable safeguard assuring the likelihood of acting faithfully in Christ. Still, one must take steps along the
path of life using wisdom when conducting any given action. Hence, this final reading from the
little trilogy of ben Sirach
focuses on wisdom. Ben Sirach teaches that wisdom must be sought through the heart
(vs. 15:1), with determined effort (vss. 14:21-27),
and on the basis of a thorough knowledge of Holy Tradition (vs. 15:1). Then, as a companion, wisdom will
sustain life, foster growth, stabilize thought and
action, and yield joy, gladness, and eternal blessings (vss.
15:2-6).
Actions taken when fear of the Lord is not in
the heart cannot accomplish God’s will, including the search for
wisdom. However, “he that considereth her ways in his heart shall also have
understanding in her secrets” (vs. 4:20). By contrast, modern education emphasizes
the training of the rational mind, through postulating theorems, testing them
by control of variables, analyzing the data from repeated tests, identifying
correlations among factors, and establishing the probability of proposed
theorems. Immensely powerful data
and conclusions are generated by this means - all very heady stuff, with a
demonstrated capacity to yield useful results in many arenas. However, such education does not focus
on the heart.
The wisdom of which Sirach
speaks is not found through rational processes of the mind, but within the
heart, in “the place where the entire spiritual life develops, the place
energized by God’s uncreated energy,” to quote from Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos.
As education cannot be gained without discipline and determination,
neither can wisdom. Therefore, one
must “go after her as one that traceth, and lie
in wait in her ways” (vs. 4:22), like a hunter stalking prey, a lover
courting the beloved. Thus, Sirach asserts that one must “hearken at her
doors” (vs. 4:23), “lodge near her house” (vs. 4:24),
“pitch his tent nigh unto her” (vs. 4:25).
The question arises, Near
what? Sirach
answers, “He that hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her”
(vs. 15:1). The “doors and
windows” of wisdom would appear to be in the law of the Lord. Thus, we are talking about Scripture and
Tradition, drawing near the ways of the Holy Fathers, a kind of wisdom that is
learned through personal contact, life in the Church, worship, the hearing and
study of the Bible and the writings of Fathers.
One approaches the acquisition of wisdom as a
child with its mother, as a young, uncertain husband with a virginal bride (vs.
15:2). There is dependency,
humility, and a hunger that marks this kind of learning. It comes not by awarded degrees but by
feeding upon the “bread of understanding” drinking “the water
of wisdom” (vs. 15:3). Notice
ben Sirach’s words,
“stayed upon her” and “rely upon her” which represent a
mistrust of what one “knows” in favor of what wisdom
discloses. There is a suspicion in Sirach’s outlook that grievous error, darkness, and
confusion lurk for those who give up the search for wisdom.
To those who will listen, ben
Sirach encourages the search for wisdom with
assurances for those who continue to rely on her: Yes, one will do God’s will, for
he “shall not be confounded” (vs. 15:4). Wisdom will be the secret of his life,
exalting him above the morass in which so many of his neighbors are mired down
(vs. 15:5). Wisdom will become a gift
in him “in the midst of the congregation” for helping others (vs.
15:5). The seeker “shall find
joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him to inherit an everlasting
name” (vs. 15:6).
I bowed down mine ear a little, and
received wisdom, and gat much learning. I profited therein, therefore will I
ascribe the glory unto [Thee] that giveth me wisdom. (Sir. 51:16, 17).
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