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The intent of Pilgrim Processing is to provide commentary on the Daily Lectionary from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The format for the comment is Old Testament Lesson first, Gospel, and Epistle with a portion of one of the Psalms for the day as a prayer at the end.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

25 February 2014




This seems like an odd statement: "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight."  It is indeed true though, wisdom is rarely accidentally required and even then it is most often painfully acquired in this way.  To seek wisdom, to know the way of things, sets in motion that which is beneficial for life.  What is wisdom?  We have to begin in the right place if we're going to get real wisdom.  We can get wisdom in business, wisdom in interpersonal relationships, wisdom in a great many areas of life from a great many sources but doesn't it make sense to get wisdom from the one who created all things.  This is yet another reason the idea of a creator is important.  If there is a creator there is an ultimate and eternal source of wisdom while if there is not a creator all statements of wisdom are subject to revision based on circumstances.  Worldly wisdom can carry us so far in this life but it cannot get us to the next life, eternal life.  If our goal is to be healthy, wealthy and wise in this life we can get that wisdom anywhere but if our goal is to live godly lives that glorify Him, we need to get wisdom from Him.

All the mourners even believe Jesus could have saved Lazarus from dying.  It was a compliment but there was also a criticism contained in their words.  Why hadn't He come?  Didn't He love Lazarus, Mary and Martha enough to respond to their summons?  No one believes that Jesus can do anything now and we know that because of Martha's response to His command to open the tomb.  Death is accompanied by decay, and Martha knows it.  You don't open the tomb on the fourth day, as the KJV said, He stinketh.  At His command, Lazarus comes forth from the tomb, bound in graveclothes.  Who would have believed such a thing were possible?  No one at all.  Wisdom is all in knowing who this man truly is.

The wisdom of God is revealed in the love of God and in loving others we reveal that same wisdom.  We show that we understand what it means that not only we, but all humankind, is created in the image of God and in loving others we love God's image, just as He has done in dying for us.  Wisdom is accepting fully and living into the truth of the cross, that Jesus isn't just a good man dying unjustly, He is taking on sin, the sin of the whole world, and offering Himself as a sacrifice to the Father for propitiation of sin.  Wisdom is knowing that the resurrection tells us that His offering was acceptable to the Father. Wisdom is knowing that sets us free from fear of what this world might do to us, the fear of not fitting in, and the fear of death.  Wisdom is following the one who is acceptable to God. 

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