Where Wisdom sits ...

   I was a teenager in the 70's which inspired spiritual seeking. Spiritual hunger was awakened, re-emerging and ready to be embraced. The Irish priests in my high school tried to steer us on a Christian path. Simplified attractive Hindu and Buddhist concepts were popularized, ready to answer life's complexities. I don't think Christianity was ready for the challenge. Only after years in academia, did I discover our own mystics like Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Catherine of Siena, Cassian and others. I think so few had the expertise to teach us something about the depth of these people's spiritualities or their search for God, that 'cerco di Dio.'

   The search for wisdom finds its main Christian source in the first chapter of John's Gospel which depicts two strangers curious about a 'mysterious stranger.' Jesus, John says, turned around, saw them following him and asks: "What are you looking for?" They simply answered: "Rabbi (Teacher), where do you live?" Whereupon Jesus replied: "Come and see." That "come and see" should be the key to that search and not just on an emotional level. We need to use our intellect as well.

   Justin is my favourite example. Born c. 100-165, he was a philosopher who abandoned the philosophy of Plato to become a Christian. I believe he has something to say to us today. Here is his story:    Justin relates his conversion with a conversation he had with an elderly gentleman who challenged his basic assumption. He asked him if there was any affinity between us and God. Is the soul immortal or divine? What is the soul? Is it part of the mind? We take the Greek word 'soul' so much for granted. We presume Jesus talked of it also. Jesus always spoke of a relationship with his heavenly father. We are told he pondered over the Hebrew Scriptures. He was not afraid to think. When the senior citizen revealed his faith to Justin; he began to question his own philosophical beliefs for the first time. Justin realized that the human mind neither could not find God only within itself nor did it contain him. It needed to be enlightened by divine revelation and the faith proclaimed by Jesus. Thunderstruck by what he had heard, Justin decided to study Christianity using the very intellect with which he was gifted. He became one of our most learned Christians. He coined that search for wisdom as "palaios tis presbyteis."

   What fascinates me about Justin, who eventually died for the faith, was his brilliance. He is one of those saints whom I describe as "one of the minds who falls in love with God." 

   Let us be challenged by our intellect to find and to deepen where

Wisdom sits.