Patient and Wise

Wisdom is a beautiful, somewhat neglected, little book sitting quietly in the Old Testament and offering us this week some insight into the gospel from Matthew (Matt 13:24-43) and  especially into the nature of God. Written by a devoted and learned Jewish writer, probably less than a century before Jesus’ birth, the book of Wisdom is particularly directed at uplifting the confidence of people in times of struggle. Wisdom (Wis 12:13, 16-19) assures us about the love of God, who cares about everyone with righteousness and patience towards all. His strength is righteousness and not only will he will not judge anyone unjustly but will be mild, lenient and forgiving. He teaches us how virtuous people should be kindly, forgiving and full of hope.

Which leads us to Matthew who writes for Christian people struggling on the periphery, perhaps a little like ourselves, daunted amid a secular world often antagonistic and dismissive of our beliefs and values. Commissioned to proclaim God’s kingdom, making disciples of all nations, we might be overwhelmed by the injustice, abuse of power, exploitation, enslavement and killing of the innocent we see around us, wondering how we can make headway against entrenched evil.

We are tempted to put our trust in worldly riches, sinful advantage and worldly cares and then to see ourselves as superior to others. How are our little mustard seeds to grow amidst all this choking? Jesus knows all about opposition and exactly the challenges we face, teaching us in these parables about weeds and wheat, not to get bogged down doing the sorting job that belongs to God and his angels, but to rise confidently above all that is seeking to ensnare, entangle and drag us down.

And we draw confidence from Wisdom which assures us of God’s limitless, patient love and willingness to forgive repentant sinners.

Deacon Mark Kelly