Sir 51:12-20
And therefore I shall thank you and praise you, and bless the name of the Lord. When I was still a youth, before I went travelling, in my prayers I asked outright for wisdom. Outside the sanctuary I would pray for her, and to the last I shall continue to seek her. From her blossoming to the ripening of her grape my heart has taken its delight in her. My foot has pursued a straight path, I have sought her ever since my youth. By bowing my ear a little, I have received her, and have found much instruction. Thanks to her I have advanced; glory be to him who has given me wisdom! For I was determined to put her into practice, have earnestly pursued the good, and shall not be put to shame. My soul has fought to possess her, I have been scrupulous in keeping the Law; I have stretched out my hands to heaven and bewailed how little I knew of her; I have directed my soul towards her, and in purity I have found her; having my heart fixed on her from the outset, I shall never be deserted.
What wonderful words about the gift of wisdom, the highest of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are implanted in us with the sacrament of Confirmation!
Today we hear how desirable wisdom is, how it can awaken a great desire in us. Even in a young person it can already dwell, if he looks for it and seeks it from the heart. Wisdom is not simply a general knowledge, but a “tasteful knowledge”, a taste of God, a taste of His love.
Wisdom is waiting for us, it is always at the door of our heart, wanting to enter. Its beauty is overwhelming! Whoever perceives it will never forget it again. The soul rejoices at this blessing of encountering wisdom, for it was created in the wisdom of God (cf. Gen 1:26). Thus it meets its origin, for it is formed in the image of God. What could delight her more than to meet the Lord in wisdom?
Let us turn our gaze to Mary, the Mother of God, the Bride of the Holy Spirit.
In a very beautiful invocation she is called the “Seat of Wisdom”. And indeed: in the Blessed Mother God has glorified Himself in a special way. Already her immaculate conception was, according to God’s counsel, an outstanding work of God’s wisdom! Mary became the Mother of the Messiah and a temple of God’s indwelling, free from the original sin which all other mortals have. In her the Holy Spirit could settle unhindered and unite with her. Wisdom herself took up residence in her!
What a wonderful vessel of divine grace is Mary! She is truly a Seat of Wisdom, “tota pulchra” (completely beautiful). Her beauty comes from God, her radiance from His glory. In her all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are at work and His fruits have fully ripened. She, as the Bride of the Holy Spirit, has become the sweet “Harp of God” in her receptivity and obedience to the Will of God. Thus she can excellently teach us how our openness to the work of the Holy Spirit can grow.
God’s wisdom has made her not only the mother of Jesus, but also our mother, the mother of the Church.
A harp is played gently. When David played it, the evil spirit departed from King Saul (cf. 1 Sam 16:23). When the Holy Spirit works through the beloved Mother of God – and this is always the case – the truth takes on a particularly mild radiance. It can easily penetrate the soul of man and yet is strong enough to make fortresses shake. Who could resist her when her love song resounds, when her whole being is filled with the glory of God and she turns to us as a mother?
In preparation for the feast of Pentecost, we have meditated on the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which the Lord wants to see grow in us, so that our lives can also shine in God’s beauty. They are fruits of the tree of life! They give divine life, not like those fruits of death from the tree of knowledge that wanted to rob us of divine life.
Who can help us so that we not only admire and long for these fruits, but that they really grow within us?
Our divine friend, the Holy Spirit loves His bride. He has filled her so richly that she has become the Seat of Wisdom, the Harp of His Goodness. Let us therefore listen well to her. Our Lady can tell us much about her Bridegroom and teach us how to know Him even better. Under her mild guidance, His gifts will unfold more easily and the fruits will grow more quickly. This is what those who live intimately with the Blessed Mother tell us. To turn to her is certainly very good advice. Obviously, it is the advice of the Holy Spirit.
The Mother of the Lord is the help of Christianity!
If we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit in cooperation with His Bride, then we can confidently set out on our journey. Wisdom is waiting for us!
Harpa Dei accompanies the daily scriptural interpretation or spiritual teaching of Br. Elija, their spiritual father. These meditations can be heard on the following website www.en.elijamission.net