The Gift of Grace

06May
Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth. I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know that she was their mother. I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth, for it is an unfailing treasure for mortals; those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction.
- Wisdom 7:7-14

The gift of Grace, the sovereign gift of God through Christ, whereby we are declared atoned for our sins (even when we are in a sinning state) is, as the young would say, “Awesome”. But it is not the only thing all the Easter hubbub is about. If it were, it would be enough that we were each a spotless white tulip blossom in an infinite field of perfect white blossoms, all swaying in rhythmic unison it the breezes of this life. How lovely.

No, the point of God’s gift of washing us free of guilt and shame is to make us tabula rasa, clean tablets, into which God writes the wisdom of his plan for us, and knowledge of the powerful tools we are given to carry out God’s designs. Think of Divine Wisdom as the first cousin of Grace, just as the human action character of John the Baptizer was cousin to the divine perfection of human Jesus.

Throughout the Bible, Wisdom is personified as female. How starkly apt that a certified mouth-breathing guy like me is called upon to welcome into my atoned self female qualities of wisdom such as teachability, curiosity, humility, nurture; and lack of guile, acquisitiveness, and grudge-mongering. Hold-on, bible-writers; lack of acquisitiveness is a female quality…?

The point is, the ingathering of Divine Wisdom is preparation for ministry, for action. Like Grace, it is a gift. Unlike Grace; we must overtly open ourselves to it and seek God’s wisdom; then share it through ministry to one another. That’s what the hubbub of Easter is about.

Musical Reflection - In Thy Kingdom (from the Liturgy) Kyiv Chamber Choir

Lord, keep us hungry for knowledge of your plan for us. Keep us humble. Keep us aware of the need for ministry and peacemaking in the world, in our nation, in our city, in our homes. Amen.
Old TestamentGrace
Tags
wisdom, easter, grace, female

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