A few years
ago, I used Jan Richardson's book Sacred Journeys: A Woman's
Book of Daily Prayer as a daily resource for my prayer life;
I still go back to it from time to time. The author, Jan Richardson,
is a United Methodist pastor serving in Orlando, Florida; she
is gifted both with creating visual arts and spiritual inquiry.
Her artwork on the cover of that book is available for purchase;
I have taken advantage of its availability. The cover is of
three women of different ethnic origin (none Caucasian) on a
journey bearing gifts. It is entitled 'Wise Women Also Came.'
Traditionally,
this Second Sunday after Christmas - the closest one to Epiphany,
January 6th is celebrated as Epiphany; this is when the Gospel
text from Matthew speaking of the Magi, astrologers - wise men
who come in search of Jesus is usually read; we usually hear
about their seeing Jesus where upon they have an Aha! Moment,
an Epiphany: they realize this babe is the true king, the true
ruler.
I imagine that Aha! moments came/come for both men and
women. I believe that Wisdom resides in both men and women.
In
fact if we were now to pay attention to the scripture readings
set for this 2nd Sunday of after Christmas, we'd hear of Wisdom
throughout the readings.
Unlike Roman Catholics, as Protestants
we don't recognize the Wisdom of Solomon from which Natalie
read as a part of our canon; the collection of Holy Scriptures.
Luther declared this along with some other books no longer officially
part of the canon. But this scripture (along with Ecclesiasticus
also known as Sirach both are collections) is a collection of
Wisdom writings just like Proverbs, Job, and Daniel of our Old
Testament. You may be more familiar with Job, Proverbs, and
Daniel. The Wisdom of Solomon probably was written in Greek
and probably originated by an author or authors who lived in
Alexandria about 50 BCE. But enough: this piece we heard speaks
of Wisdom.
Do you recall Wisdom in Proverbs? Proverbs 8 is
renowned for its magnificent portrayal of Wisdom personified
as a woman. She calls out, raises her voice. She stands at the
crossroads, by the wayside, beside the gates, at the entrance
of the portals.
Our reading
for today also portrays Wisdom as a person: a woman. Did you
hear it as Natalie read from the Wisdom of Solomon? Every time
Wisdom is referred to, the female pronoun is used; the use of
the feminine pronoun is very deliberate. Ordinarily, the male
pronoun is used universally biblically but here: "She
guided them; she brought them over the Red Sea; Wisdom
opened the mouths of those who were mute."
It is confounding,
isn't it, to speak of wisdom as a person? But if you think for
a moment, even early on in the Hebrew texts in Genesis, one
can hear how God is personified. God walked through the Garden
of Eden. Personification exists biblically and we, too,
use it because of our inability in describing God any other
way. And it is amazing to hear the female imagery.
If we were to
read more from the Wisdom of Solomon, we would hear of how Wisdom
moved through Hebrew history bringing the Hebrew people to the
land of milk and honey, and to have faith in the One True God.
We would also hear of how Wisdom associated with the Torah/
the Law.
Although in some biblical texts Wisdom almost appears
to become another Deity, in this morning's text, Wisdom does
not remain as a separate entity - male or female. "She entered
the soul of a servant of the Lord." In the book, the Wisdom
of Solomon, this is reference to Solomon's wisdom. But I believe
"She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord" also references
the ability of Wisdom to enter each believer.
Wisdom as heard
from our Old Testament began at the very beginning of creation.
It makes one wonder, if Wisdom has been around since creation,
why are we still so off base in our choices? In the Hebrew Testament,
the desire is that all attain, grow into wisdom. We read that
over and over in the Proverbs. Abiding by the Torah was a key
to gaining wisdom.
But why
am I talking about all this? Pivotal and primary to Christianity's
texts are the Gospels! I offer this as groundwork for us. In
particular, when we hear again this morning from the gospel
of John we recognize that we have heard the Gospel of John's
prologue several times in the last month. Again today
we hear from the beginning of John. The repetition is evidence
of its importance, its foundational spot in our faith.
And here's the connection to Wisdom: the Gospel of John
comes from the same tradition as Job, Ecclesiastes, Daniel,
and the Wisdom of Solomon; it, too, is part of the body of writings
considered Wisdom writing.
We hear of John the Baptist as Jesus'
precursor, but in the gospel of John one hears nothing of the
baby birth stories as in Luke or Matthew. Rather, "in the beginning
was the Word" - Logos. "In the beginning was the Word," and
then simply, "the Word became flesh." Wisdom in the Old Testament
and early writings is portrayed as a woman (In Greek it is translated
as Sophia; in Hebrew, it is hokmah.). Now in John, we hear the
Greek Logos/Word.
Just as with Wisdom, rabbis related Logos
to Torah; rabbis also associated Logos with wisdom/Sophia.
Now
hear again how the gospel of John moves Logos/wisdom in a most
astounding way. Logos/Wisdom becomes flesh. The Word became
flesh, 'dwelled in our midst, full of grace and truth." Do you
hear it? Do you hear what has happened? Wisdom (the Word) has
become human in Jesus Christ.
Just as Wisdom existed at the
time that creation first occurred, likewise the Word existed
at the very beginning. Here in John, the Word astonishingly
is not just personified but in fact becomes flesh and lives
and dwells among us. And all who received him, who believed
in his name, he gave power to become children of God. John speaks
further saying, we have seen His glory.
Typical of Wisdom literature,
following another line of understanding, John does not explain
the how or give a story line of a babe but lays out the mystery
of the coming of Jesus as the Christ. And all who believe understand
the inexplicable mystery of an unfathomable God.
I can't help
but stand/sit/look/imagine that we all yearn to journey through
life as wise ones. We look to make the best possible decisions.
We look to make rational calculations. We make rules so that
we abide by a common set of understandings. And underneath all
of that, I think we also yearn to journey through life as wise
ones where we bear gifts that we are often unaware we possess
and we search longingly for the One, Jesus Christ, who lives
among us.
I believe we do come across that One; we have Aha!
moments when we know we have met the Holy in our lives. I know
He lives among us. Do you? How else could such a skeptic as
me be turned to Him? I know He lives among us; what else would
cause us to sing so? I know He lives among us, for what would
cause us to give so generously? I know He lives; because of
the peace on her face even as she faced death. I know, because
my life has been so turned around because of His love. I know
he lives among us because of the Table set before us. I know
He lives among us because of your faith.
May this
year be one where we all journey as wise ones, bearing gifts
openly and joyfully for the One who has been made flesh and
does live among us. May we meet the Holy. Let Epiphany come!
