CHAPTER FIVE
MARVELLOUS EXCELLENCE OF ETERNAL WISDOM
52. In the eighth chapter of the Book of Wisdom, the Holy
Spirit shows the excellence of eternal Wisdom in terms so
sublime and yet so clear that we need only quote them here,
adding a few reflections.
53. 1. "Wisdom reaches mightily from one end of the earth to
the other and orders all things graciously."
Nothing is so gracious as eternal Wisdom. Of his very
nature he is gracious without bitterness; gracious to those
who love him, never showing displeasure; gracious in his
conduct, never showing severity. He is so gentle and
unobtrusive that you might often think that he is not present
when you meet with accidents and contradictions. But,
possessed of invincible power, he quietly but effectively
brings all things to a happy issue in ways unknown to men.
After his example, the wise man should be graciously firm and
firmly gracious - suaviter fortis et fortiter suavis.
54. 2. "From my youth I have loved and sought him and desired
to take him for my inseparable companion."
Whoever wishes to find this precious treasure of Wisdom
should, like Solomon, search for him (a) early and, if
possible, while still young; (b) purely and spiritually as a
chaste young man seeks a bride; (c) unceasingly, to the very
end, until he has found him. It is certain that eternal
Wisdom loves souls so much that he even espouses them,
contracting with them a true, spiritual marriage which the
world cannot understand. History furnishes us with examples
of this.
55. 3. "Wisdom shows his glorious origin by being so
intimately in union with God and by being loved by him who is
Lord of all."
Wisdom is God himself - such is his glorious origin. God
the Father has testified that he is pleased with him proving
how much Wisdom is loved (Cf. Chapter One and No. 98).
56. 4. "Wisdom is the teacher of the knowledge of God and
director of all his works."
Eternal Wisdom alone enlightens every man that comes into
this world (Jn. 1:9). He alone came from heaven to teach the
secrets of God (Cf. Jn. 1:18; Mt. 11:27; 1 Cor. 2:10). We
have no real teacher (Mt. 23:8,10) except the incarnate
Wisdom, whose name is Jesus Christ. He alone brings all the
works of God to perfection, especially the saints, for he
shows them what they must do and teaches them to appreciate
and put into practice all he has taught them.
57. 5. "If it is riches we seek in this life, who is richer
than divine Wisdom who created all things?"
6. "If the mind of man can produce things, who is more
able than the fashioner of everything that exists?"
7. "If someone loves holiness, again the great virtues
are the handiwork of Wisdom, for he teaches temperance and
prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing in this life is
more useful than these."
Solomon clearly shows that since we should love Wisdom
alone, then from Wisdom alone we should expect all things -
material goods, knowledge of nature's secrets, all spiritual
good, the theological and cardinal virtues.
58. 8. "If anyone desires knowledge, eternal Wisdom knows the
past and can forecast the future. He understands the
subtleties of speech and the lessons of parables. He
recognises signs and wonders and knows all that is going to
happen as seasons and ages pass by."
If anyone desires to possess a deep, holy and special
knowledge of the treasures of grace and nature, and not merely
dry, common and superficial knowledge, he must make every
effort to acquire Wisdom. Without him, man is nothing in the
sight of God, no matter how learned he may appear in the eyes
of men. "He will count for nothing" (Wisd. 3:17).
59. 9. "I therefore resolved to take him as my companion in
life, knowing that he would share his goods with me and be my
consolation in my cares and sorrows."
Eternal Wisdom is so rich and generous; how can anyone
who possesses him be poor? He is so gentle, attractive and
tender; how can anyone who possesses him be unhappy? But
among all those who seek eternal Wisdom how many can honestly
say with Solomon, "I have resolved to possess him"? The
majority of men do not make such a resolution with real
sincerity. Their decisions are mere wishful thinking or at
best weak and wavering resolves. That is why they never find
eternal Wisdom.
60. 10. "Through him, I shall be acclaimed among the people
and, although still a youth, honoured by the elders."
11. "I shall be considered shrewd when I sit in
judgement. The most powerful will be surprised when they see
me and princes will show their admiration for me."
12. "When I am silent, they will wait for me to speak;
when I speak, they will pay attention to what I say. If I
speak at some length, they will place their hands on their
lips."
13. "He it is who will give me immortality, and through
him I shall leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come
after me."
14. "I shall govern people through him and nations shall
be my subjects."
St Gregory has this comment to make on Solomon's self-
praise, " Those whom God has chosen to write his sacred words
are filled with the Holy Spirit. In a way, they seem to rise
above themselves and enter into the very one who possesses
them. Thus they become mouthpieces of God himself, for they
are concerned with God alone in everything they say, and they
speak of themselves as though speaking of someone else."
61. 15. "The most formidable kings shall be afraid when they
hear of me. I shall show myself kind to my people and valiant
in war."
16. "When I go home, I shall be at my ease with Wisdom,
for his conversation is never disagreeable nor his company
unpleasant. With him there is only contentment and joy."
17. "I thought about these things and I reflected in my
heart that immortality is found in union with Wisdom."
18. "I found pure contentment in his friendship,
inexhaustible wealth in his accomplishments, understanding in
his teaching and conversation, and great joy listening to his
counsels; and so I went about seeking him everywhere to make
him my companion."
After summing up his previous commentary, Solomon draws
this conclusion: "I went about seeking for eternal Wisdom in
all directions." To possess him we must seek ardently; in
other words, we must be ready to give up everything, to suffer
everything, in order to obtain possession of him. Only a few
find him because only a few look for him in a manner worthy of
him.
62. In the seventh chapter of the Book of Wisdom, the Holy
Spirit speaks of the excellence of eternal Wisdom in these
terms: "In Wisdom there is a spirit that is intelligent, holy,
unique, fruitful, subtle, eloquent, active, unsullied, lucid,
gentle, benevolent, keen, irresistible, beneficent, kindly,
firm, unfailing, unperturbed, all-powerful, all-seeing,
possessing every spirit, understandable, pure and subtle. For
Wisdom is more active than any active thing. He is so pure he
penetrates all things" (Wisd. 7:22-24).
"Wisdom is an infinite treasure for men. Those who have
utilised this treasure have become God's friends, and
praiseworthy for their gifts of knowledge".
63 After reading such powerful but tender words which the
Holy Spirit uses to show the beauty, the excellence and the
treasures of eternal Wisdom, we cannot but love him and search
for him with all our strength. All the more so since he is an
inexhaustible source of riches for man who was made for him
and infinitely eager to give himself to man.
