Modern-day scientists can answer many of Sirach’s “unanswerable questions.” Sands of the seashore? Take the amount of grains of sand in a teaspoon and multiply it by the volume of all the beaches and deserts on earth: scientists estimate it’s over seven quintillion (that’s seven with eighteen zeroes after it). The depths of the abyss? Through unmanned submarines, scientists can descend three miles into the deep chasms of the ocean and study its mysteries.
But that knowledge is not the wisdom Sirach is talking about.
From now until Ash Wednesday, we will be reading from the Book of Sirach, a collection of sayings and moral teachings that is part of the wisdom literature in the Hebrew Bible. Today’s reading is a poetic introduction to the book, and it highlights this essential point: all wisdom comes from the Lord (Sirach 1:1). Wisdom helps us see the world as God does. Wisdom helps us know how to live in this world that God has created. Wisdom helps us understand who we are and how we
should relate to the people in our lives. In short, wisdom—God’s wisdom—is available to guide every aspect of our lives.
Isn’t that good news? God doesn’t keep his wisdom to himself. He freely—lavishly—gives it to his friends. That includes you!
One of the most obvious ways God shares his wisdom is through his word. Sirach says, “The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom” (1:5). St. Paul would agree—he urges Timothy to use the Scriptures to teach, correct, and train himself in all areas of righteous living (2 Timothy 3:16).
Today is a good day to take some time to seek God’s wisdom. Try sitting with the Scriptures for a bit, and allow them to sink into your mind and heart. Maybe use today’s readings. Or you could use a favorite psalm or a story from the Gospels. Whatever passage you choose, give yourself time to read prayerfully and to ponder what you read. Let the words open your heart to God’s heart. Let them open your eyes to the way God looks at things. Let them show you how to live.
God’s thoughts are indeed deeper than the abyss. So dive into his word, and discover all that he wants to show you.
“Father, thank you for teaching me the way of wisdom.”
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