In today's selection of the Book of Sirach* is a beautiful hymn to 'wisdom'. What is wisdom? It presupposes knowledge (of facts) and understanding (of the meaning of facts), but it goes beyond both of them. It is a love for the truth I know and understand. Thus the Wisdom of God, as the reading says, instructs and admonishes "those who love and serve him". And they in turn become wise by the gift of God. They love him and his truth. Moreover, their wisdom is revealed in their actions. The wise person is like the skilled artisan who can use his knowledge to create a thing of beauty.

The Gospel reading shows us that Jesus has, "the power and the wisdom of God", to expel the demons. His enemies claim that he is using demonic power but this is self-contradictory. If he drives out demons by the power of Satan (Beelzebul), then the devil is working against himself which makes no sense. Jesus' works, however, are the sign and the fruit of his divine wisdom. They manifest clearly, to those who have eyes and heart to see, that God is truly with Him.

In our own humble way each of us is called to live and love the truth proclaimed by Jesus - to show the world that his truth is, the way to freedom for the men and women of our twenty-first century.