Second Friday in Advent

Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1; Matthew 11:16-19

“Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”  Intriguingly, the NRSV translation says that some ancient authorities read “children” rather than “deeds.”  What’s at stake in that shift?  Jesus was seen by the earliest disciples as the embodiment of Wisdom, the one who "was with God at the beginning" of creation; hence the opening of John's Gospel, and the first O Antiphon, "O Wisdom."  The earliest version of this story said "children," but that implied that Jesus is the child of Wisdom rather than Wisdom herself.  So it became "deeds" pretty quickly.

Isaiah calls the people to wisdom: "O that you had paid attention to my commandments!  Then your prosperity would have been like a river, and your success like the waves of the sea" (Isaiah 48:18).  Jesus comes like Wisdom, who invites people to her banquet (Prov. 9:1-6).  Living with wisdom is a delight, not the hard road at all.  But seeing that takes some discernment.  This is what Jesus' audience lacks.  

Why do they fail to see what Jesus brings, what he is?  Why could they not hear John's call to prepare?  Why is it so hard to hear and see now?  This morning I had a new insight into the structure of denial.

It's easy to think of reasons why we might resist the call of wisdom.  It usually calls us to change our ways, our ideas, our relationships.  It's easier to deny climate change than to reinvent our energy needs and resources (though once again, the easier softer way turns out to be the more painful route).  Or we might go into denial because the one bringing wisdom doesn't look like what we expect: Who expected a Messiah from Nazareth, an itinerant preacher who eats and drinks with anyone who invites him?  But I think there's a deeper reason for denial.

When we are hurt we develop defenses.  Those defenses usually involve freezing some part of our emotions in order to survive.  We deny pain or fear or grief so we can "get on with our lives."  But freezing is not selective.  When we freeze some emotions, we blunt the whole apparatus.  The part that recognizes danger is needed, but if we have shut it down we can't see when we are in real trouble.  The part that senses danger is linked to the part that senses opportunity, so we miss that too.  So we ignore John's warnings, and we despise Jesus' invitations.  We don't do this intellectually; our intellect follows what we can see and feel.  

Advent is a time to renew our senses.  That is a painful and risky enterprise, and for some people it will require a trained companion.  But it's worth it.  Jesus comes with amazing news, good news, and you deserve to hear it.

If you sense that you've been missing something, that some level of love and wonder eludes you, now is the time to go searching for it.  Practice noticing the world around you, and within you.  Ask God to show you what you are missing, and to lead you to companions who will help you access it.  Go to Eucharist and make this request.  You are eating and drinking at Wisdom's feast - let her feed you richly!