As many of you heard me mention this past Sunday, I plan to retire this Spring to a farm we are in the midst of buying in West Virginia. About 15 years ago Mary and I came here to Christ the Redeemer and my ministry as a priest in Yuma began. Our church family here brought us through some difficult times together, including Mary’s passing a few years ago. You have also all been part of some of the happiest times of my life, such as my wedding to Carrie last year.
Over the past few months, it seems that God has been nudging Carrie and me. Articles about the best states for retirement kept appearing in my news feeds, and we eventually decided on someday moving to West Virginia when it becomes time for me to retire. Last month, we were doing some Internet house searches just for fun, and it led to a wonderful find near Charleston that had been on the market for just a couple days: A nice house with 80 acres of land, including woods and a pond. So, we made an offer on it. Our offer was accepted and closing is anticipated around the end of next month.
So, it seems retirement has arrived sooner than we expected. If the sale goes through, we plan to move during the Spring, so I will be with you all for these next eight months while you begin the search process for a new rector.
Thank you for your help, guidance, and love over these years. I love you all and you will always remain in my prayers.
Turning to the topic of wisdom and truth shown in our Old Testament reading this week, we see that the ninth chapter of Proverbs discusses wisdom as a person. The Ancient Jewish image of God was of him creating the universe through his preexisting wisdom. According to the standard Jewish doctrine in biblical times, this wisdom existed before the rest of creation, but still was created. The rabbis’ writing about Wisdom personified the idea as a person, a woman.
Our passage today gives us some of that description (9:1-6)
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her slaughtering, mixed her wine, and also set her table. 3 She has sent her servant girls, she calls upon the wings of the high places of town, 4“Whoever is simple, let him turn here.” As for the one who lacks sense, she says to him, 5 “Come, eat with my bread; drink with the wine I have mixed. 6 Lay aside simplicity and live; walk in the way of understanding.” — Prov 9:1–6 (LEB)
But there’s more to it. The author (the book is attributed to several authors, with much of it by King Solomon) also warns us about scoffers who try to dissuade us from wisdom. We tend to call them “friends.”
He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself, and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt. 8 Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke the wise and he will love you. 9 Give to a wise one and he will become more wise; teach a righteous one and he will increase learning. — Prov 9:7–9
When we decide to not be part of some foolishness our buddies think is a good idea, it usually isn’t met with, “That sounds like a very wise decision.” More often than not, they try to cajole us into being part of whatever unwise activity they’ve got planned.
Understanding that God wants certain behavior from us, and that he is in charge, helps us to choose wisely in life.
The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh, and knowledge of the Holy One, insight. 11 For by me your days shall increase, and years of life shall multiply for you. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, alone you shall bear it. — Prov 9:10-12
Many of the kids I grew up with behaved in a certain way because they knew how their dad would react if they didn’t. They didn’t fear their dads in the sense of being scared of him, but rather in the biblical sense of understanding his authority over them and realizing how much they would disappoint him by violating his rules. The biblical idea of “fearing God” relates to a “healthy respect for God.”
Think about how we use electricity. It’s a powerful force that can easily kill us, yet we’re not scared to flip our light switches on and off. Some fools among us, however, show a reckless disregard toward electricity.
This is one of my favorite safety photos. The man is barefoot, with wet pants, standing on a metal ladder in a swimming pool, using an electric drill to make a hole in the ceiling above him. At least he’s wearing his safety goggles.
That foolhardy approach is the way the unbelieving world deals with God. A lackadaisical attitude that can bring undesirable results.
The statement that fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom means that the first step for us as mere humans is to recognize God’s authority over his creation, and that we are made by him and for him — not the other way around.
The second half of this chapter shows foolishness personified. When we ignore wisdom’s call to us, we typically end up responding to the call of foolishness.
A woman of foolishness is loud, simple, and does not know it. 14 She sits at the door of her house, upon a throne at the high places of town, 15 in order to call to those who pass by the road, those who go straight on their way: 16 “Whoever is simple, may he turn here!” As for he who lacks sense, she says to him, 17 “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant.” 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, in the depths of Sheol are her guests. — Prov 9:13-18
When someone dies doing something foolish, we think “what a waste.” There was so much more in store for this person in his or her life, but it ended abruptly by a foolish act. According to Grand Canyon park statistics, about 12
people die there each year. Some from medical conditions, but most from foolishness that brings permanent consequences.
In the photo shown here, we see a barefoot man with wet pants standing on an aluminum ladder in a swimming pool using an electric drill with the power cord looped in the ladder leading running to an outlet outside the pool. But at least he’s wearing safety goggles.
This is a good example of what wisdom does not look like. This is also why there are so many warning notices attached to ladders. You can probably expect to see a warning label on your next ladder purchase stating not to use while in a swimming pool holding electrical power tools.
Verse 13 reminds us that foolishness is loud. Not the particular foolish act itself, but its call to us. Wisdom is a whisper in the noisy distractions of our lives. Just as we strain to hear a conversation in a nightclub or rock
concert due to the loud background noise, so too must we strain to hear God’s still, soft voice amid the clamor of our lives.
It’s the voice of wisdom.
Grace and Peace,
Fr. Austin