wise?
"Wisdom instructs her children and admonishes those who seek her." —Sirach 4:11
Do you want to be wiser? Do you want to more fully develop the charism of wisdom, which you received when you were baptized and confirmed? If you become wise, you will inherit glory (Sir 4:13), receive the Lord's love (Sir 4:14) and His blessings (Sir 4:13), judge nations (Sir 4:15), be happy (Sir 4:18), and know God's secrets (Sir 4:18).
To become wise, you must love (Sir 4:12), seek (Sir 4:12), hold fast to (Sir 4:13), serve (Sir 4:14), obey (Sir 4:15), hearken to (Sir 4:15), trust (Sir 4:16), and walk with (Sir 4:17) wisdom. If you fail to do this, wisdom will abandon you and deliver you "into the hands of despoilers" (Sir 4:19). The choice is either wisdom and gain, or abandonment and loss. To become wise is very rewarding and very demanding. Not to seek wisdom is devastating.
Therefore, seek and love wisdom and Jesus, Who is our Wisdom (1 Cor 1:30). Seek wisdom no matter how much you have to suffer and sacrifice (Prv 4:7). As Solomon did, ask God for wisdom before all else (1 Kgs 3:9-12). Pray: "Give me Wisdom, the Attendant at Your throne, and reject me not from among Your children" (Wis 9:4).
Prayer: Father, without doubting I pray for and receive wisdom (Jas 1:5-6).
Promise: "Anyone who is not against us is with us." —Mk 9:40
Praise: Alice administers computer security for an accounting office. When she sets up a new user, she always initializes their password to JAMES1V5. Then, she quotes the passage to them: "If any of you is without wisdom, let him ask it from the God Who gives generously and ungrudgingly to all, and it will be given him" (Jas 1:5).
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, November 9, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 15, 1996