Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom
Kellia: Wisdom 7:30-8:9 Epistle: 1 Peter 3:10-22 Gospel: St. Mark 12:18-27
Wisdom 7:30-8:9, especially vs. 9, "Therefore I determined to take her to
live with me, knowing that she would give me good counsel...." Among the peoples of the
Middle East, it was the ancient People of God, Israel who uniquely elevated wisdom by
establishing it in commitment to God. Wisdom provided a trustworthy attitude toward life -
including matters of general interest - prudence in secular affairs, skills in the arts, and moral
sensitivity; but wisdom only does all this when first there is genuine "fear of the Lord" (Pr. 1:7).
Therefore, in the Old Testament, wisdom always was closely associated with God, a vision
illustrated and apparent in statements like those found in today's reading: "She glorifies her noble
birth by living with God, and the Lord of all loves her, for she is an initiate in the knowledge of
God, and an associate in His works" (Wis. 8:3-4). Furthermore, because the noun, "hokmah" is
feminine in Hebrew, as is its counterpart, "sophia," in Greek, the personification of wisdom
regularly was cast in feminine imagery, as is amply demonstrated in today's passage. However,
with the Apostle's proclamation of the Lord Jesus as "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (Jn. 14:6),
the Church perceived from earliest times that true Wisdom is fully and finally revealed in the
Person of Christ, the "Agia Sophia," the Holy Wisdom. Naturally, the Holy Fathers of the
Church also discerned that true wisdom derives from and participates in the Logos, in God the
Word, in Holy Wisdom Himself, a theme set up by the Apostle Paul in First Corinthians (1:24).
It followed that the Great Church, the primary Cathedral of Constantinople, in the first
exclusively Christian City, should be named the Church of the Holy Wisdom.
Read in this light, this present passage is a remarkable commentary on the Person of God the
Word, our Lord Jesus Christ as Holy Wisdom. As such, He is revealed as Creator, the first love
of every Christian, and the ultimate Teacher and Counselor of the Faithful.
Wisdom "reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, andorders all things well"
(Wis. 8:1). Christ Jesus our Lord is "Light of Light, Very God of Very God...by Whom all things
were made." As the blessed Apostle teaches us: "God also hath highly exalted...and given a name
which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11).
Does not the heart and soul of every true Christian love Him Who first loved us? From our
"youth" in the Faith, He has been our first love, the One with Whom we long to be united, being
"enamored" with His beauty (Wis. 8:2).
Christ Jesus as Wisdom is the great Teacher and Counselor of the Faithful and is so regularly
portrayed for us in the icon to the right of the Royal Doors. Many say, "Money talks," but "what
is richer than Wisdom Who effects all things?" (vs. 5). Granted, "knowledge is power," but Who
is mightier than the Fashioner of all that exists? (vs. 6). "Honesty is the best policy," yet Christ
our Counselor is the best Teacher of "self-control and prudence, justice and courage" (vs. 7). We
agree that "experience teaches," but "if any one longs for wide experience, [Christ our God]
knows the things of old, and infers the things to come" (vs. 8).
What better conclusion can we affirm than the choice that Solomon indicates? Let us declare
with him, "Therefore I determined to take [Him] to live with me, knowing that [He] would give
me good counsel and encouragement in cares and grief" (vs. 9).
Today Thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and Thy light hath been shed upon us, who
praise Thee with knowledge, saying, Thou hast come and appeared, O Holy Wisdom!