Wisdom among the young is very unusual

We seldom if ever associate wisdom with youth. In fact, we find wisdom among the young so unusual that, when we observe it, we remark on the fact, claiming that the youth is ‘wise beyond his years.’ Nevertheless, that is precisely what the verse announces. Wisdom in our culture is more commonly associated with age. It is the elderly man or woman who supposedly has wisdom to share. 

That’s understandable given that wisdom enables a person to see things in their proper perspective—not just the truth, but truths in their proper order of significance and importance.

Image by Gerd Altmann

Wisdom among the young is very unusual

By Steve Hall


https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060323.cfm
Sirach 51:12-20
Mark 11:27-33


Any claim to know why these two readings and this particular Psalm were grouped together would probably be mistaken so long as that claim focused on the human motivation. Yet, there is a unifying element which is presented early in the first Scripture.

“When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.”

We seldom if ever associate wisdom with youth. In fact, we find wisdom among the young so unusual that, when we observe it, we remark on the fact, claiming that the youth is ‘wise beyond his years.’ Nevertheless, that is precisely what the verse announces. Wisdom in our culture is more commonly associated with age. It is the elderly man or woman who supposedly has wisdom to share. That’s understandable given that wisdom enables a person to see things in their proper perspective—not just the truth, but truths in their proper order of significance and importance. One would expect that the life experience that comes with age would teach one Wisdom.

Wisdom does not elevate the temporal or the inconsequential to levels of higher importance than they deserve. Thus it is that this passage from Sirach celebrates the one who pursues Wisdom while still young and innocent. Consequently, the author says: “My feet kept to the level path because from earliest youth I was familiar with her [Wisdom].”

It is in this context that we can appreciate what comes next. 

“The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.”

These words are from the Psalm and the verse appropriately acknowledges both the perfection of God’s creation and the laws which govern it as well as the fact that everyone can obtain the wisdom to perceive this fact. 

In contrast we read the story of Jesus’ challenge to the chief priests, the scribes and the elders—those who, above all others, would be expected to possess wisdom. Finding themselves entangled and potentially threatened by Jesus’ question (Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin?), they opted for ignorance.

“We do not know.”

But they were not ignorant of facts, for John preached openly. “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Neither were they ignorant of evidence as to his preaching’s origin, for they had the witness of the prophets from Israel’s history. What they were ignorant of was the Wisdom to perceive the right order of the universe and all creation within it. It is interesting that the ordinary people came to John, recognizing their need for the message he brought. “And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” But when the Jewish authorities came—the same people involved in today’s conversation with Jesus—they are called by John a “brood of vipers.” In this we hear the Psalm repeated: “The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.”

It would seem that in our present age the young and innocent are not taught to first seek out Wisdom, but rather to prepare for a job that is both temporal and, ultimately, inconsequential. But the right order of things does not change. Neither does the necessity for Wisdom in seeing that order. 

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