Homily outline: In the life of faith, few pursuits are more worthwhile than that of wisdom

• We spend much of our lives seeking stability and the resources necessary to secure it:
  • Yet the wisdom of God is not found in the pursuit of material wealth, at least not without irony or paradox.
  • Rather, the wisdom of God is discovered by daring to act wisely, even think differently, as Jesus constantly did.
  • The Wisdom writer from today’s lectionary even prefers wisdom to light.
  • The author is awed by the brilliance of her enduring riches.
• Jesus acknowledges the seductive lure of chasing wealth, but both speaks and acts in such a way to reveal that the life of faith requires unusual sacrifice and trust in the promises of God:
  • The Rich Young Ruler in Mark is the only one in the New Testament explicitly to reject Jesus’ call.
  • It may be easy to fault his spiritual weakness.
  • Yet Jesus understands how difficult it is to sacrifice as God demands.
  • Still, Jesus does not leave his hearers despairing, but reminds them that all things are possible for God.
  • Trusting in God, as Jesus demonstrates, sometimes requires thinking differently and allowing God’s Spirit to lead us in new ways.
• It may surprise us to learn that wisdom is such a valued capacity that scientists are studying in order to understand how it comes about.
  • Howard Nusbaum and his colleagues at the University of Chicago distinguish between intelligence and wisdom.
    • Smart people can solve problems but don’t always consider the impact of their solutions on others.
  • True wisdom, what Nusbaum considers “practical wisdom” is decision making that leads to human flourishing
  • Nurturing wisdom is good for our wellbeing, and studies indicate that wisdom is associated with better quality of life among older adults.
  • It is also a benefit for those who have yet to acquire it.
  • The “Grandma hypothesis” suggests that since having and raising children extracts a higher cost as women age,
    • older women instead expend energy in adding their adult offspring to reproduce and subsequently care for their grandchildren.
  • Wisdom from this perspective is generous and life giving to others, even as one declines physically.
  • While often associated with the elderly through their accumulation of experiences, but recent studies indicate that wisdom can be acquired through key practices, e.g.,
    • Considering others or practicing empathy
    • Regulating our emotions
    • Being open to different points of view
    • Embracing ambiguity and uncertainty
    • And taking a long-term view of things.
• The Jesus wisdom
  • Jesus may not have known the science, but certainly acquired the art of Wisdom.
    • His empathy,
    • openness to everyone from Samaritans to Pharisees,
    • living boldly in the uncertainty that comes with challenging dominant religious views of the day
    • and taking the long view of God’s reign.
  • Everyone was not able to benefit from his wisdom
    • And today’s story of the rich young man might suggest that he was incapable of taking the long view, with so many possessions blocking his vision of a future in Christ.
  • In our search for wisdom, we may not be called to give up everything like Jesus asked the Rich Young Ruler to do
    • But we have to assess in our own lives what disables us from taking the long view in Christ.
  • And then, as Gospel wisdom and good science suggests
    • We need to practice ourselves into wisdom
    • Through empathy and openness
    • And a willingness to find God’s light even in the midst of uncertainly and ambiguity
  • This discipleship path is not pursued alone
    • For we live in the aura of the Holy Wisdom revealed in Jesus
    • And imparted through the gifts of the Spirit imparted to us in baptism
    • And sustained through gospel fellowship.