Dear friends,

A wise old owl sat on an oak.
The more he saw, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?

The description of a “wise old bird” was once applied by one priest to another priest. I was going to him for advice. And indeed, it was true - the old priest knew a thing or two, and gave me wise advice at a time when I needed it. He was a man of prayer and of humor - he didn’t take himself seriously, but the Lord he took very seriously indeed.

Wisdom is an elusive quality. We can gain wisdom as we age, although not all old people are wise. The Bible contains three books dedicated to Wisdom: Proverbs, Ecclesiasticus and the Wisdom of Solomon.

In the Book of Proverbs, there is this delightful passage:

Wisdom has built her house,
She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
“Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
Lay aside immaturity, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”

Proverbs 9:1a, 3a, 5, 6

Notice that Wisdom is a “she”, from the Greek word Sophia. In the Bible she is the agent of God’s communication of salvation, hope, and judgement. 

To our human nature, Wisdom is like a mother, nurturing us and guiding us into adulthood. One of the responsibilities of adulthood is to leave behind youthful foolishness and to grow into maturity. That doesn’t mean becoming dull and boring. The French theologian Peter Abelard writes that the first key to wisdom is assiduous and frequent questioning. He writes “For by doubting we come to inquiry and by inquiry we arrive at truth.”

An open and active mind, together with a faithfulness to the moral teachings of the Bible, is a reliable road to Wisdom. However, the attaining of wisdom requires more than simple faithfulness to the Law of God. The verses from Proverbs contain an invitation: Wisdom welcomes us to share in bread and wine. 

There is an inescapable connection to the Eucharist; our formation takes place in the context of fellowship and community. Christian communities are founded on Jesus Christ, which is another way of saying that they are founded on love. The simple entry into this community of love is through a shared meal.

I hear that wise old bird in my ear now. He is saying, “seek Wisdom in the silence of your heart, and receive the gift of Christ in the holy sacrament.” The fruits of wisdom are a heart turned towards God and compassion for the world. Our regular celebration of the Eucharist is like going each day to the well to draw water. As Wisdom reveals God present in ourselves and in the world, we are being transformed and the world with us.

With blessings,

Father David