Today is the feast day of St. Gregory of Nyssa.
The lectionary readings include this beautiful passage from the Book of Wisdom:
For wisdom is more mobile than any motion;
because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things.
For she is a breath of the power of God,
and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.
For she is a reflection of eternal light,
a spotless mirror of the working of God,
and an image of his goodness.
Although she is but one, she can do all things,
and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;
in every generation she passes into holy souls
and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
Wisdom 7:24-28
I wish I knew how to get her to move in with me...sigh.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Mimi---thank you.
Paige, we know that Jesus was a man. I stumble over which pronoun to use for God. Mostly, I go with "he" out of habit, but occasionally I throw in a "she".
ReplyDeleteBut we can be sure of this: WISDOM IS A LADY!
A very beautiful passage. Many thanks for that this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteRick, you're most welcome. The passage brought me great pleasure. I'm pleased that you liked it, too.
ReplyDelete"WISDOM IS A LADY!"
ReplyDeleteAh, but so also is Folly (Moria), though she is highly praised by Erasmus.
Now, now, Rick. Don't get me started on the men.
ReplyDeleteI'll have Mr. Chesterton get started, for one who is undoubtedly no Lady:
ReplyDeleteThe Devil is a gentleman, and asks you down to stay
At his little place at What’sitsname (it isn’t far away).
They say the sport is splendid; there is always something new,
And fairy scenes, and fearful feats that none but he can do;
He can shoot the feathered cherubs if they fly on the estate,
Or fish for Father Neptune with the mermaids for a bait;
He scaled amid the staggering stars that precipice, the sky,
And blew his trumpet above heaven, and got by mastery
The starry crown of God Himself, and shoved it on the shelf;
But the Devil is a gentleman, and doesn’t brag himself.
Rick, you did my work for me far better than I could have done, and you gave me a laugh in the process.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of the commemoration of St. Gregory are these lines:
ReplyDelete"Neither one [Gregory of Nissa and another Gregory, forced by Basil to be bishops] wanted to be a bishop, neither was suited to be a bishop, and both were furious with Basil.
Gregory did not get along well with his flock, was falsely accused of embezzling church funds, fled the scene in about 376, and did not return until after the death of Valens about two years later. (!)
We couldn't help bursting out laughing yesterday at Morning Prayer when this was read!
oops Nyssa not Nissa...
ReplyDeleteAgha, I can see how that drew a laugh from the group. It made me smile when I read it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely bit of scripture. Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteJim, you're welcome. I read it again this morning, and its beauty struck me once more.
ReplyDelete