wise simply

Sirch 4:11-19; Psalm 119 O Lord, great peace have they who love your law; MArk 9:38-40

In today's first reading we encounter the beautiful imagery of Lady Wisdom who "breathes life into her children and admonishes those who seek her. He who loves her loves life; those who seek her will be embraced by the Lord. He who holds her fast inherits glory..."

Wisdom, the gift of wisdom imparted to the soul, is that which enables and empowers the soul to understand the highest causes of things and to order his life accordingly. The one who is wise simply is the one that sees more clearly and thus chooses most perfectly the path that leads to the Highest Cause, God, in all that unfolds in life. HE is the one that taste things as they really her.

Wisdom enables us to direct our life according to God's plan and thus the first fruit of wisdom in the soul is Charity, responding in love to the one who is Love and thus we become wise simply.


Today in the church we celebrate the memorial of St. Polycarp. He was a student at the feet of St. John the Evangelist, the guy who wrote the gospel of John and other things.

Polycarp knew the man who the Man, Jesus Christ. So he got first hand experience of what JEsus was like through St. John. Imagine what that would have been like. Talk about a "rock" star.

Polycarp eventually becomes a bishop in the church and he served in Smryna, which is in modern day Turkey. At the age of 86 years he was arrested by the Roman Pro-counsel and was asked to die or renounce his faith in christ.

Polycarps response was the following, "For 86 years I have served Him and He has never wronged me. How Can I renounce the one who has saved me."

Thus, Polycarp was led to the amphitheater where he was put to death.

Polycarp was wise simply...He knew the Highest Cause of things and thus he was empowered to order his life accordingly. Martyrs like Polycarp don't choose death but rather they choose life, they choose to live for Him from whom all life comes and all life returns.

Here is man who was filled with wisdom and nothing could deter him from returning the favor to the One who favored Him.
His words to the Po-counsel are filled with wisdom, "For 86 years I have served Him and He has never wronged me. How can I renounce the one who has saved me!"

St. Polycarp pray for us!

Lady Wisdom "comes back to bring him happiness and reveal her secrets to them and she will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and an understanding of justice..."