Sunday Meditation: When the Lord Established the Heavens

Today’s most interesting reading I find is the first reading.

 

 Thus says the wisdom of God:
            "The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways,
                        the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
            from of old I was poured forth,
                        at the first, before the earth.
            When there were no depths I was brought forth,
                    when there were no fountains or springs of water;
            before the mountains were settled into place,
                        Thus says the wisdom of God:
            "The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways,
                        the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
            from of old I was poured forth,
                        at the first, before the earth.
            When there were no depths I was brought forth,
                    when there were no fountains or springs of water;
            before the mountains were settled into place,
                        before the hills, I was brought forth;
            while as yet the earth and fields were not made,
                        nor the first clods of the world.

            "When the Lord established the heavens I was there,
          when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep;
            when he made firm the skies above,
                        when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth;
            when he set for the sea its limit,
            so that the waters should not transgress his command;
            then was I beside him as his craftsman,
                        and I was his delight day by day,
            playing before him all the while,
                        playing on the surface of his earth;
                        and I found delight in the human race."      

-Prv 8:22:31

So the passage is spoken from a first person perspective.  Who is this person speaking?

 

Happy Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity!

Sunday Meditation: The Spirit of Wisdom

I absolutely adore this passage from the Book of Wisdom.

 

I prayed, and prudence was given me;

I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.

I preferred her to scepter and throne,

and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,

nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;

because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,

and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.

Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,

and I chose to have her rather than the light,

because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.

Yet all good things together came to me in her company,

and countless riches at her hands.

       -Wisdom 7:7-11

 

Of course, on the surface the woman referred is Lady Wisdom.  One step deeper, it is a good and loving wife.  One step beyond that, it is the Blessed Mother. 

 

Notable Quote: The Source of Writing Well by Horace

Horace  is one of favorite poets.  I've been meaning to self teach myself Latin.  If I finally do it this year, I'll be going to read him in the original.

Of writing well the source and fountainhead is wise thinking.

-Horace

Faith Filled Friday: Proverbs 9:1-6

While reading this month’s Magnificat, the Catholic magazine of daily devotionals, I came across this wonderful little poem that is in Proverbs.  Now as I’m slowly reading my way through the Old Testament in sequence, I have not gotten up to Proverbs yet.  I’m not aware of how its organized or its significance.  I've only been exposed to bits of readings quoted, read in church, or placed in devotionals.  I was surprised that this was in the form of a poem.

Wisdom has built her house,

She has set up her seven columns;

She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine,

Yes, she has spread her table. 

She has sent out her maidens; she calls

From the heights out over the city:

“Let whoever is simple turn in here;

To him who lacks understanding, I say, 

Come, eat of my food,

And drink of my wine that I have mixed!

Forsake foolishness that you may live,

Advance in the way of understanding.”

          -Proverbs 9:1-6

The line “She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine,” reminds me of my mother with her meats that go into her Sunday Italian gravy.  I believe “mixing of wine” refers to the ancient practice of adding water to wine to adjust the taste.  At least they did that in the Roman world, so I’d assume they did it in ancient Israel as well.

The gist of the verse is with the line “Let whoever is simple turn in here.”  Wisdom rests in simplicity, so “forsake” sophisticated foolishness.

And I absolutely love the lines, “Come, eat of my food,/And drink of my wine.” Isn't that a phrase used in a song?  Probably.  Of course it echoes Christ, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood” from John 6:54.