Lady Wisdom

Wisdom 6:12-16New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 

Wisdom is radiant and unfading,
and she is easily discerned by those who love her,
and is found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.
To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding,
and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
because she goes about seeking those worthy of her,
and she graciously appears to them in their paths,
and meets them in every thought

Most members of protestant denominations don't have a lot of experience with the Book of Wisdom.  If you happen to have it in one of your bibles, it is in the middle - in the apocryphal or non-canonical texts.  In other words, the Protestant reformers (like Luther) didn't consider it canon.

While there are good arguments for that, it is a shame that we don't get to read it often so the fact that it shows up even occasionally in our lectionary is, I think, pretty cool.

Wisdom here is personified - as in Proverbs - as a woman, and there have been attempts to link Lady Wisdom with the Holy Spirit - as she is seen as coeternal with God, and God's creative agent.  

Although the connection to the Holy Spirit is probably not theologically grounded, nevertheless, Wisdom is intimately connected with God and an "associate in God's works" and for me, that connection - personified as female - is one that is important to remember.

We grow up with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and for girls, there is often a feeling of being left out - the male names and pronouns for God have long dominated the stage.

And yet here we have Wisdom - female and powerful.  

Meeting people in every thought.

Easily discerned by those who love her.

And reminding us that just when we think we know who God is and how God is defined, we realize that we haven't even begun to scratch the surface of perfect understanding.

God of Wisdom, you don't put us in boxes.  Help us not to put you in boxes either but to be open to your generous and mysterious presence, even though we cannot even begin to fully understand it.  Amen.