Wisdom has built her house…she has also
set her table…she calls…To those without sense…Lay aside immaturity, and live,
and walk in the way of insight. [Proverbs 9:1a, 2b, 3b, 4b, 6]
Fear the Lord,
you that are his saints…Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it. [Psalm 34:1a, 14]
Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people
but as wise, making the most of the time...So do not be foolish but understand
what the will of the Lord is... [Ephesians, 5:15-16a, 17]
Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from
heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever...This is the bread that
came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died.
But the one who eats this bread will live forever." [John 6:51a, 58]
This week we have a reading
from Proverbs as our primary Hebrew Testament lesson. It is continuing a poetic
narrative about Wisdom. In these verses, Lady Wisdom has built her house,
prepared a feast and issues an open invitation to the simple to enter
and to those without sense she says…Lay aside immaturity and walk in the way
of insight.
The psalmist tells us to Fear the Lord you
that are his saints… There are a couple
of things to unpack in this short phrase. First, "Fear" isn't meant the
way we use it today as "to be afraid or frightened." Rather, in
Biblical context it meant to have respect for, reverence, or to be in awe. Second,
you that are his saints isn’t intended for us regular folk to be
excluded. From the Greek meaning "to set apart, " "sanctify,
" or "make holy," in ancient times it was about separating God’s
presence from the everyday worshiper, as only certain consecrated men were
permitted access to the holy spaces. Later, in early Christian times, a saint
was a martyr and down the centuries sainthood has become something more
formally designated for those who are dead by some denominations and not especially recognized by
others. But in general, all who dedicate themselves to life in God through Christ
as lay, ordained, or in a vowed religious order are living saints, with flaws and
imperfections, and sometimes in need of reconciliation, confession, and
re-dedication! We are to turn from evil and do good… which is certainly a
wise way to walk.
Paul urges caution in
this life and is quite direct in telling us to live wisely. He reminds us to
"make the most of the time" we have and not "be foolish” and
caught up in mere earth-bound pleasure. Anyone who has watched a child grow or
sees how quickly the pages of the calendar turn, understands the increasing
speed of years passing in this human time. As my grandmother used to say,
"The days are long, but the years are short." We are to
recognize and accept the opportunity to be filled with the Spirit, giving thanks for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our redemption is from
God through Christ who is the new manna from heaven that revives and saves our
souls from the mortal wounds we often inflict upon ourselves. Jesus is not only
the true food and true drink for eternal life, this Living Bread also fills us with divine
purpose in this life, as preparation for the next.
It is time to
remember to be in awe of God again, to discover our own beginning of wisdom and even our saintliness. Once we wise up and follow on the path that Christ leads,
then our faith, especially in a community of believers, will help keep
us on track. When we stop on the path or turn in a different direction, we
can become lost and spiritually hungry. Seek and then answer the call for wisdom for our souls to live on and be nourished forever.
The Living Bread from Heaven, Jesus, is our spiritual sustenance, our new manna of life. We can begin with Him anywhere, anytime, and a good time to begin and to begin again is always now.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Holy and Living God, open our
hearts to sing with the melody of gratitude for Your gift of Jesus as our Bread
of Eternal Life. Guide our every action to be in service to Your Will and in
the name of our Lord Christ, the Son of Man.
Gracious, Loving Lord
RESPONSE:
Your Wisdom invites us to faith
~
Holy and Living God, awaken the souls of those who govern to work for the good
of our Planet, our Nation, and our Community. Grant us all the maturity of
thought to live and walk the way of insight, turning aside from evil to do good,
and to seek and pursue peace for all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Gracious,
Loving Lord
Your
Wisdom invites us to faith
~
Holy and Living God, deliver hopeful relief to all who suffer in body, in
spirit, or in life circumstance, and to all entrusted with their care. We
now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
Gracious,
Loving Lord
Your
Wisdom invites us to faith
~
Holy and Living God, gladden the hearts
of those who mourn, as by Your redemption, those we
love have awakened in the joyful courts of heaven to new life now and forever. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
Gracious,
Loving Lord
Your
Wisdom invites us to faith
~
Holy and Living God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt
thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
Gracious,
Loving Lord
Your
Wisdom invites us to faith
~
Holy and Living God, we offer our whole-hearted
thanksgiving for those You have chosen to inspire us through Your Word and
Sacraments and who guide us in the work You have given us to do. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Gracious,
Loving Lord
Your
Wisdom invites us to faith
The Celebrant adds: Almighty and Eternal God, fill us with
the Spirit to live wisely now with Divine purpose, that in our brief time on
this earth, we will continually abide in Christ and prepare to be raised to
eternal life. We ask through Jesus, our new Manna from Heaven; and the Holy
Spirit, our unending Source of Wisdom; who together with You reign as One God,
for all time, now and forever. Amen.
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