“When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. . . . my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest . . . on the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:1–5).
St. Paul describes God’s power as something that is not like human power. God operates through a “demonstration of spirit and power,” not through “sublimity of words or of wisdom.” Elsewhere, Paul indicates that he is thought of as unimpressive and soft-spoken when he speaks in person, but his letters show forth God’s work more clearly. God’s power works almost despite Paul, transforming him from an enemy of Christ to a critical apostle.
Today’s Psalm describes God’s commands as giving more understanding, wisdom, and discernment than teachers, enemies, and elders. We would think that this would make Paul eloquent and impressive, speaking confidently and dumbfounding his listeners with the Gospel. But, as we know, Paul was not like this, and his success is due to the strange workings of God’s power and wisdom. When the Psalmist describes God’s commands, we have to understand the resulting understanding, wisdom, and discernment as supernatural, a different kind than what we might expect. It is still a higher wisdom, but it is not one identical to human wisdom.
Jesus tells His listeners that the wisdom of God will not be received by all. Although human wisdom is powerful enough to be understood by many, divine wisdom requires a different sort of receptivity: faith. If Jesus wanted to use human eloquence to make Himself known, He would have done so, and His listeners would have not taken as much offense at His claims. Instead, He relies on the power and wisdom of God. As a result, He is not understood by those without faith, and they take offense at His messianic claims. He is dishonored in His hometown of Nazareth and is nearly thrown off of a cliff.
These readings show God’s working as something higher than human working, and also something qualitatively different. As Paul shows us, it seems to work despite his failings. It is transformative, allowing us to act in ways that we could never do on our own, giving us outsized influence and effect. As the psalmist says, it rises above human power and wisdom. It may not always operate in human terms, but it will be infinitely higher than them. As Jesus points out, it is still a mystery to those who are not receptive to it. The infinite greatness of God is clearly better than human greatness, but it is only understood as such to those with faith.
With this understanding in mind, we can have a healthy reliance on God for His power and wisdom, recognizing that these things are supernatural gifts and are not things that we can acquire by our own merit.
Daily Reading
Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 1 Cor 7:25-31 Brothers and sisters:In regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord,but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is…
Saint of the Day
Saint Paphnutius
Saint Paphnutius, an Egyptian ascetic and bishop, endured persecution, defended faith at Nicaea, and supported clerical marriage tradition.
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