God’s wisdom flows like a river and gives life to all who would listen

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings, for Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, by Father Perry.

The word of God today comes directly from the wisdom of some of the Wisdom literature, specifically Sirach.

It begins with Verse 2 of Chapter 3, but Verse 1 (not included here) is instructive and saturated in the language of the wisdom of a father speaking, wisely, to his children: “Children, listen to me, your father; act accordingly, that you may be safe.”

Then the passage continues with: words of advice, how to act, that one should respect and why they should respect, and what God has done in giving children’s parents and God, directly placing those parents over those children — who should obey and listen to their parents, and care for them especially in old age, and …

This wisdom flows like a river and gives life to all who would listen.

This is God speaking God wisdom and opening minds and hearts to the language of love.

(Googling this question: “Is wisdom God?” It will produce abundant and beautiful explanations and, yes, wisdom for the reader. I highly recommend it.)

But in addition to the wisdom literature, there is also abundant wisdom shared in Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

Apparently, this was a Corrective Letter written to draw people back to a solid and fundamental belief in Jesus the Christ, and to adopt attitudes and behaviors and manners of living that kept Jesus’ words and teaching central and foundational to their lives (see these footnotes today for a rich understanding of this letter: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/0).

In other words, to live the Wisdom of Christ!

Both of these selections from Colossians are a hot-to and a why; and a what, then will happen in the lives of those who live the Gospel of Jesus the Christ and see and hear and grow as true disciples of the Lord.

And to be sure, this is a matter of heart seeing and heart hearing and heart growing: “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Did you all notice? All of this language in all of the readings is a kind of recipe of what could make for a holy family — or a wholly family.

Wholeness is holiness, is that which we are all called to in life.

And what better place for this to begin than within the family structure, the home, the domestic church, the place where love could and should thrive.

And it is there, too, that healing and hope and solutions could and should happen, especially through the wholesome relationships between parents, children, and siblings, and even extended family and through family friends. It just makes good sense.

And to this, as in the Gospel today, we see some more angelic dreamlike visitations that appear to guide and lead from the inner spirit to the outer realms of life.

Our safety and our futures — somehow depending upon God’s creative and spiritually provoked guidance and super caring blessings.

The saying goes something like this … “The family that prays together — stays together.”

+ I’m not going to doubt that that is true. But, I would go one further; and this, as the psalm states it most wisely today: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord [that is, hold the Lord in awe] and walk in his ways.”

Imagine a whole family — all together, doing that — walking in the ways of the Lord together, listening intently to the Wisdom of God, holding the Lord in fear (that is, in enormous awe), and together discovering who they, together, could be and could become in God!

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.