Homo stultus

All wisdom comes from the LORD and with him it remains forever, and is before all time. The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain, the days of eternity: who can number these? Heaven's height, earth's breadth, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these? 

Before all things else wisdom was created; and prudent understanding, from eternity. The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom and her ways are everlasting. To whom has wisdom's root been revealed? Who knows her subtleties? To whom has the discipline of wisdom been revealed? And who has understood the multiplicity of her ways? 

There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring, seated upon his throne: There is but one, Most High all-powerful creator-king and truly awe-inspiring one, seated upon his throne and he is the God of dominion. It is the LORD; he created her through the Holy Spirit, has seen her and taken note of her. He has poured her forth upon all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty; he has lavished her upon his friends. (Sirach 1:1-10)

The word of God is female, according to Sirach.  The word of God is wisdom.  Yet, God is “Most High all-powerful creator-king and truly awe-inspiring one, seated upon his throne and he is the God of dominion,” and wisdom (she) has been poured forth upon all God’s works, upon every living thing. 

Has this discipline of wisdom been revealed to each of us, and do we understand the multiplicity of her ways? Wisdom, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to contemplate and act productively using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight.  

The Holy Spirit gives us this wisdom, and it’s up to us to use it.  Many of us, unfortunately, act stupidly in so many ways such as by hating, lying, and betraying.  God must wonder why so much of his dominion has wasted his bounty.  I suppose we should be thankful for God’s patience and love for his wisdom-challenged creation called humanity. 

Homo sapiens is Latin for “the wise human” or “the clever human.” Boy, did we get that wrong.  Perhaps we should have classified ourselves as Homo stultus.  I offer that suggestion because so many of us don't believe in evolution and challenge sound science on so many fronts.  Science gives us wisdom enabling us to number heaven's height, earth's breadth, and the depths of the abyss, to name just a few of our science-based accomplishments through the Holy Spirit.

Deacon David Pierce