Are you smarter than a ??

The daily Mass readings will be taking us through Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians for the next few weeks. Aside from Paul's letter to the Roman's, there is probably no better teaching of theology in Scripture. It is Thursday Sept 2nd and we are in the third chapter where Paul is teaching about the wisdom of God and the wisdom of humanity. Paul does not have a high opinion of human wisdom. In fact, He states that the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. He is not the only one to say such things. Isaiah and the Psalmist's are but a few that come to mind stating the foolishness of human wisdom.

There is no doubt that the human mind is capable of great thought and incredible inventions. Where science is taking computer capabilities is astounding. That does not mean that it is the right thing to do or the smart thing to do. Paul states in Verse 18 that we should become fools. In a real way, we are God's fools, but it is better than being the world's fool or even worse, a fool for the devil. God invites us to reconsider our own counsel and wisdom. We may be smart, eloquent, a great debater, have many degree's. To be the most eloquent does not mean that one is right. "Book smarts" does not mean wisdom and it does not guarantee a good decision making process. I would state that most priests are pretty "book smart," but one of the jokes we constantly heard at Seminary as we prepared events that had many priest participants, was that it was easier to "herd cats together" than to get priests to their places and do the same thing even liturgically. Many people can do the hard things in life, but struggle with what others would call easy.

Look at the revelation of God's wisdom to us and contrast that to what we see as human wisdom. God's wisdom sent His Son to die at the hands of the very people He was trying to save. God's wisdom allowed so many of His followers be martyred. God's wisdom allows us to suffer as innocents. God's wisdom allowed Saints to lead lives of deprivation and suffering to inspire us. God's wisdom chose sinners as His best friends and disciples. It was God's wisdom who chose the weak to show His power. It is God's wisdom to humble us so that we rely on a power greater than ourselves. Human wisdom relies on its own power and there is the folly of what Paul is getting at. It is not bad to have wisdom, as long as it humbles itself before perfect wisdom.