The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. — 1 Corinthians 1:25
Most certainly, God’s Wisdom is what we need today. How else can we receive guidance for our daily living especially when we do not know who or what to trust these days? Wisdom is among the many gifts God gives to us by way of the Holy Spirit and made manifest in Jesus Christ.
Wisdom is “the reflection of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness” [Wisdom 7:26]. With God’s Wisdom, we have the guiding inspiration to be living instruments of His love and reflections of His goodness if we are open to it. But how can we be open when so much is happening to shut us down?
Perhaps Mary, the Mother of Good Counsel, who was no stranger to adversity, can help us. Like Mary, as human beings, we are animated with a spiritual soul created by God. Mary demonstrated with her life that for the sake of our souls—and all creation—which God entrusts to us, we need the Wisdom that only Our Lord can provide.
With Wisdom Is Good Counsel
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled,” said Elizabeth to Mary at the Visitation [Luke 1:45]. Mary believed in the Word of God; the Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, was incarnate of the Blessed Virgin and became man. As the Way, the Truth, and the Life that Mary invites us to follow, her Son Jesus Christ is Wisdom incarnate.
With Wisdom we have Good Counsel. Christ leads us to God the Father who sends us the Holy Spirit to remind us all of what Christ has taught. Through the Holy Spirit, we are given knowledge and understanding to strengthen and guide us to live wisely as we face our daily challenges.
In other words, when we believe as Mary did, we too are blessed; the Word of God comes to life in us. Therefore, we should not deprive ourselves of what Our Lord has to give because all that He gives is rooted in love. We see that love in Mary who never lost heart or hope, especially when she endured pain and suffering. If we follow Mary’s example, God’s loving Wisdom and Good Counsel are ours to accept and to share.
Ephphatha—Be Opened!
Unfortunately, our society is becoming more closed off from God’s infinite power and goodness. As human beings our limitations are evident. How can we expect to preserve and protect our lives, our future, and our world without the gifts and graces of the Holy Trinity?
Let us ponder: When Christ restored the hearing of a deaf man, He said Ephphatha! (Be opened!) [Mark 7:34]. We are called to be open to hear and accept God’s Word into our being. With the help of Mary’s intercession, in unity with the Holy Spirit, may our minds, hearts, and souls be open to gain God’s Wisdom and share His Good Counsel so that we all can recognize and embrace the power of His loving goodness. Amen.
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Paul wrote:
5 For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, which is the man Christ Jesus,
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all men, to be that testimony in due time,
There Is no need to suggest intercession by anyone else.
Recently we heard Solomon asking the Lord to “Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil.” 1Kings3:9 also to “Give me, therefore, wisdom and knowledge to govern this people”. 2 Chron 1:10.
Therefore, it is important to ask the Lord, in our prayers, for our needs – even though he already knows our needs. Yet, often we are like a little child asking for a pony. This story reminds us that our Lord only deals in a currency called the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and He is actually very pleased when instead, we admit our need is really Fortitude.