Wisdom is justified by all her children

 

 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  When the men had come to Him they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'"  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.  Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:  that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."  

When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written:  

'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.'

"For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.  And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:  

'We played the flute for you,

And you did not dance;

We mourned to you,

And you did not weep.'

"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by all her children."

 

- Luke 7:18-35 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus concluded all His sayings (the Sermon on the Plain) in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.  And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.  So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.  And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue."  Then Jesus went with them.  And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.  Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.  But say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."  When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"  And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.  Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.  And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow.  And a large crowd from the city was with her.  When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."  Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still.  And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He presented him to his mother.  Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."  And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

 

 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  When the men had come to Him they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'"  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.  Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:  that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."  My study Bible comments here that John the Baptist was imprisoned soon after Jesus was baptized (Mark 1:14).  Although John had directed his disciples to follow Christ (John 1:29-31, 35-37), some remained with him.  While John's own faith was undoubtedly strengthen by the signs Jesus performed, my study Bible says, in patristic commentary this encounter is universally seen as a means John used to convince his remaining disciples that Jesus was indeed the Coming One.

 

When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written:   'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.'  For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.   Jesus' quote regarding John the Baptist is from Malachi 3:1.  By quoting from the prophets, Jesus is clearly speaking of the great honor due to John the Baptist, who lived in poverty but is nonetheless exalted by God.  In contrast to those who are clothed in soft garments, John wore animal skins with a leather belt, and ate what nature provided (see Matthew 3:4).  His radical poverty defined his complete and total dedication to God.  My study Bible comments that although John was the greatest prophet, his earthly life and ministry remained in the period of the old covenant.  The new covenant so far surpasses the old that the least in the kingdom is greater than the greatest outside it.  This does not imply that John will not be resurrected to the Kingdom, but only that his life on earth came before something far superior.  Regarding those who had been baptized with the baptism of John, see Luke 3:7-14.

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.  See Mark 11:27-33.  

And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:  'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not weep.'"  For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'"  My study Bible explains that the children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another are playing a game of the period.   It was a game played in two groups.  One group would mimic musicians, and the other group refused to respond appropriately to the type of music that was played, either for dancing or mourning.  It notes that the Pharisees were so rigid in their religion that they were unable to respond to and engage the world around them.  Therefore, they rejected John as being too mournful and ascetic, and Christ as being too merciful and joyous.

"But wisdom is justified by all her children."  My study Bible notes that in spite of being rejected by the Pharisees, both John and Christ are justified, not by the opinions of men, but by their children, those who would come to believe and be faithful.

 

Jesus says in response to the Pharisees and the lawyers,  "But wisdom is justified by all her children."  The men He addresses first of all condemn Christ for the joyfulness of His ministry and condemn John the Baptisn for his asceticism.  Christ's response is that in neither case are they correct, for wisdom works through a myriad of appearances in the world, a pantheon of saints who each embody holy wisdom in their lives and live those choices to glorify God in more varieties than we can understand.  It seems to me that each person has a particular way to serve God, and that we can see this in the variety of saints and their ministries and lives in the history of the Church.  As each one is born and lives in particular circumstances, so each will be called by God to serve in particular ways fitting to the time and place and the choices available to them.  So one thing that we can surely learn from Christ's teachings in today's reading is that we cannot prejudge nor quantify exactly what holiness will do or looks like.  We can see this in Jesus' chastising of those who apparently would look upon John as failure or false prophet now that he was imprisoned.  There were many at the time, we remember, who fancied that he was the expected Messiah, although John himself denied that (see John 1:19-28).  I love Jesus' vivid description in His castigation of those who would now reject John for the hardship of his life:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet."  What did they go out to see in the wilderness where John was preaching and baptizing?  A timid weak reed shaken by any wind that blew, or the man who stood up to the king?  Is John in the king's court, or is he in his prison?  The rough John did not bend as a reed, and never wore gorgeous apparel or lived in luxury, but rather suffered a gory death through the games and feasting of that court!  See Matthew 14:3-12.  But although the ministries and persons of John the Baptist and Jesus seem quite different, they are both called by God and follow God in what they do and how they live their lives and conduct their ministries.  Each has his role to play.  Only Jesus is the Christ, and John has his own important role to play in the story of salvation, as the one who prepared the way for Christ.  John served as the model for the early monastics, especially the desert monks, who would renounce all for the sake of following God.  His asceticism likewise provided inspiration.  But Jesus here mimics those who criticize Him, and we get a very different picture of His ministry:  to them He is "a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!"   In this picture of the opposite of John's rigorous asceticism and poverty, Jesus seemingly makes quite a spectacle of Himself in the eyes of the Pharisees and the lawyers.  In the eyes of these religious authorities, both He and John are not up to their standards of behavior.  But Jesus declares the opposite, that "wisdom is justified by all her children."  What fruits do these ministries bear?  What spiritual fruits grow from John and Jesus?  How do they inspire their followers -- do their children glorify God?    The religious leaders seem to think that it is up to them to fashion what glorifies God and what does not -- to dictate what wisdom is and does, and does not.  But they fail to honor God by failing to see what the people have seen -- even the tax collectors -- in the figures of both Jesus and John.  In emptying their lives to God, each one is transfigured in the power of God, right to the end, and into a fulfillment of an image given by God.  So they form models for our lives, regardless of what each appears to be.  For wisdom is justified by all her children.  Jesus says, "Blessed is he who is not offended by Me."  Let us consider how we honor wisdom, in whatever form wisdom takes.

 

 

 

But to what shall I liken this generation?

Last Judgment, late 15th cent, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

 "But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:

 'We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.'

"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by all her children."

Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  "Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

- Matthew 11:16-24

On Saturday we read that, as the John's disciples departed after their question for Jesus, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  For this is he of whom it is written:  'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.'  Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  And from the days of  John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.  And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

 "But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:   'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by all her children."  Jesus' scenario of the children pictures a game that was played among Jewish children at the time.  They would divide into two groups.  One group would either pretend to play musical instruments (as for those who dance) or singing mourning songs (as for those who lament or wail).  The other group would respond in the opposite or antithetical way than expected.  My study bible says that Jesus draws a parallel to the Jewish leaders, who responded with criticism of John's ministry that he was too ascetic, and to Christ's that He was too liberal in mercy and joy.

Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  "Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."  My study bible comments that it is a far greater sin to have seen Christ's works and rejected Him than never to have known Him at all.  Jesus chastises the towns which have been witness to His works, or miracles, and failed to have faith.

This is a turning point in Christ's ministry, which we can discern from the events described in today's and other recent readings.  First of all, He has just sent out the Twelve on their first mission, extending the power of His ministry through them and the work that they will do, giving them power to preach and to heal.  Second, John is in prison, and John's disciples have just come from him to Jesus, asking if He is the Coming One, or if they should look for another (see this reading).   Jesus responded to John's disciples by saying that they should tell John about the works He has done, which are signs prophesied to accompany the Messiah -- indicating that He is, indeed, the One whom they have awaited.  Each of those things are both unifying and expanding of Jesus' ministry.  But Jesus then turns to address the apparently fickle crowds under influence of the leadership in Jerusalem.  What He describes is unfair and unjust criticism, deliberately drummed up to savage both the ministries of John and Jesus.  On the one hand it is easy to criticize John for his asceticism, his depth of commitment to radical poverty like the prophets before him, for whom only service to God mattered above all else in life.  But Jesus who sits and feasts even with known sinners (as in this reading) is in for the opposite treatment:  He is far too liberal, as my study bible puts it, in joy and mercy.  Moreover, Jesus lists all the towns in Galilee where He has performed miraculous works of healing, and where He has been rejected in response.  He compares them unfavorably to the Gentile areas of Tyre and Sidon, and even to Sodom, and suggests that in the judgment each will be judged more harshly than these.  The pivot point is Christ Himself, and the power of God at work in Him and with Him, even the kingdom of heaven which accompanies Him and which He seeks to spread in the world through His ministry.  Each of the "mighty works" that He's done is evidence of this presence of God, and yet faith has not followed.  Throughout the Gospels, Jesus will be challenged by the authorities to "prove" that He is the Christ, by producing miracles on demand.  While Jesus' many miracles are attributed to the faith of the one who is healed, or possibly the friends or relatives of the healed person, this does not necessarily result in the faith of those who witness such healings.  And in this we see the wisdom of Jesus, who knows psychologically the true state of human hearts better than anyone else.  He could come into the world and perform every miracle conceivable.  He could do things simply to "prove" He is who He says He is.  But none of that would bring real faith.  Like the demanding religious leaders, it would only encourage what was already the disposition of the heart, whether that was selfishness or a true righteousness.   What He asks of us is a true response to the presence of this Kingdom, whatever form that takes.  Do we respond with love and trust, with reverence?  Is God's love about our entitlement, our demands?  Is it meant to feed selfishness, or to encourage our growth and healing?  Are we disposed to do the work of repentance/change of mind?  Do we even know that there are things we need to work on within ourselves to dwell as fully as possible within His strength and love, and to become more like Him?  His mercy is for the ones who know they have need of a Physician, a healer of body, soul, and spirit.  His joy is for those who truly need it, or rather, who know and deeply feel they need it, and come to terms with a true desire for it.  Let us continue along with Christ's ministry, and understand that everything else really depends upon faith.  That is, trust in Christ.  It all comes down to what we put first.

But wisdom is justified by all her children

 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'"  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.   Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:  that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written:

'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.'

"For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:

'We played the flute for you,
And you did not  dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not weep.'

"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by all her children."

- Luke 7:18-28(29-30)31-35

 Yesterday we read that when He concluded the Sermon on the Plain (see the readings beginning on Tuesday), He entered Capernaum.  And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.  So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.  And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue."  Then Jesus went with them.  And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.  Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.  But say to the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."  When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"  And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.  Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.  And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow.  And a large crowd from the city was with her.  When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."  Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still.  And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He presented him to his mother.  Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."  And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'"  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.   Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:  that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."   My study bible comments that John the Baptist was imprisoned shortly after the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:14).   Although he had directed his disciples to follow Christ (John 1:29-31, 35-37), some remained with him (indeed, in the Middle East there is still a sect of those who consider themselves to be followers John the Baptist).  My study bible says that while John's own faith was no doubt strengthened by the signs performed by Jesus, patristic commentators universally see this encounter as a means used by John to convince his remaining disciples that Jesus was truly indeed the Coming One.  Jesus sites the signs prophesied regarding the time of the Messiah (see, for instance, Isaiah 35:5-6), stupendous healing signs of the presence of God with God's people.

When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written:  'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.'  For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  In another sign of the graciousness that characterizes the authority and power of Christ, He defends and praises John the Baptist.   He openly and categorically challenges those who would criticize the Baptist.  My study bible remarks regarding Jesus' last statement here that although John was the greatest prophet, his earthly life and ministry remained within the period of the old covenant.  It says that the new covenant so far surpasses the old that the least in the kingdom is greater than the greatest outside of it.  That doesn't mean that John won't be resurrected to the Kingdom, but simply that his life on earth came before something much greater.  Jesus speaks of those born of women as a way of distinguishing the past from the rebirth possible through the Holy Spirit and Christian baptism.

 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.  In chapter 3, Luke tells us of all those who came to be baptized by John, including the tax collectors and soldiers who serve the Romans (see this reading).  My study bible refers us to Mark 11:27-33, in which Jesus challenged the religious leaders regarding the baptism of John, and they were afraid to reply.

And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:  'We played the flute for you, and you did not  dance; we mourned to you, and you did not weep.'  For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'"  Jesus refers to a children's game, which was played in two groups.  One group would mimic musicians, while the other would refuse to respond appropriately to which music was being played:  for mourning or for dancing.  My study bible calls the Pharisees so rigid in their religion that they were not able to respond to and engage the world around them, even as God is present in the ministries of both the Baptist and of Christ.  The Pharisees rejected John as being too mournful and ascetic, while Christ they called too merciful and joyous.

"But wisdom is justified by all her children."  My study bible comments here that in spite their rejection by the Pharisees, both John and Christ are justified -- but not by the opinions of men; rather they are justified by their children, those who would come to believe and be faithful.  Children can also be used as a metaphor for the fruits of wisdom, the Holy Spirit of God at work in the world and through those who serve the broader, fuller, deeper Church built by the Spirit through the faithful (see John 14:15-18, 26).

There are times in life when we will observe a person who can't help but criticize.  It really doesn't matter what we -- or the object of their criticism -- will do, there will always be a "bad word" for what we are doing.  So it seems it is with the Pharisees for both Christ and John the Baptist.   Jesus illumines the illogic of their criticism; John is criticized for being to ascetic, and Christ is criticized for being too joyous.  But it is important that we understand that "wisdom is justified by all her children."  It should be understood, first of all, that wisdom is female because the Greek word for wisdom is a feminine word:  sophia.  There are important churches named for Holy Wisdom, as for example the grandest cathedral in the world for a thousand years, Saint Sophia (or Hagia Sophia in the Greek)  built in what was then called Constantinople in 537.  Holy Wisdom, however, refers to Christ, and all the things which the Spirit "will bring to your remembrance" to illuminate for all of us (John 14:36).  It is this wisdom which also spoke through the prophets and the Scriptures of the Old Testament, the Lord of Israel.   Wisdom may one day tell us one thing is proper, and at another time instruct us in a different way that is appropriate.  In the Church, there are seasons of fasting and penance, and seasons of joy and feasting.  John the Baptist was the model for all ascetics, practicing a kind of poverty that left room only for God in his life.  But Christ is the Bridegroom, and while He was with us was a time of joy -- and as He said, His disciples would later fast (5:33-35).  There are times when one thing is appropriate -- and at another time we may be guided with the opposite instructions, and yet both remain "children of wisdom."  There was a time for Christ to keep the secret of His identity hidden -- and there was a time when it was supposed to be revealed.  For three years of His ministry, He avoided the death the authorities desired for Him.  But at the appropriate time, which He called His hour of glory, He went voluntarily and for the good of all.  This is the understanding that we gain from the Gospels.  Our faith is not an abstract set of values which we simply follow like rules which are always to be applied.  Rather, the Spirit of Christ is one that encourages us to discernment.  In an instruction seemingly paradoxical, Jesus instructs His disciples as He sends them out on a mission, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).  Learning our own mission in life can be as seemingly paradoxical if we have not understood the nature of wisdom, and the discernment that is asked of us.  Wisdom asks of us all to be on a particular mission, and those who cannot perceive of her demands will never understand the faith of Christ.  All people may be equal, but all do not equally grasp the things of wisdom, and we are also warned not to give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast our pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6).  All matters require discernment, and discernment can only come from prayer and the practice of faith.   There are times to embrace a brother, and times to keep silence with those who will turn and trample us under their feet and tear us to pieces (see again Matthew 7:6).  We have a living faith to learn, one which demands that we keep learning and growing in its wisdom -- each new turn in that path is justified; let us learn to live in such a way that we too are wisdom's children.