Lessons from the Proverb III

Source: District of Asia

Some parts of the Book of Proverbs are very familiar to priests because they so frequently occur in the Liturgy. The portrait of the Valiant Woman, which ends the Book, is often read as an Epistle at Mass, and the beautiful personification of Wisdom in the eighth chapter forms the lessons of the First Nocturn on feasts of our Blessed Lady. There are many other parts which ought to be just as familiar, and a little garnering here and there may perhaps induce some readers to make a deeper acquaintance with this inspired Book.

THE BANQUET OF WISDOM

Wisdom hath built herself a house,
She hath hewn her out seven pillars, 
She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, 
And set forth her table. 
She hath sent her maids to invite

 To the tower, and to the walls of the city: 
"Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me." 
And to the unwise she said: 
"Come, eat my bread, 
And drink the wine which I have mingled for you. 
Forsake childishness, and live, 
And walk by the ways of prudence."

                Our Lord in the Gospel compares the kingdom of heaven to a feast, to which all are invited. In the foregoing passage Wisdom is represented as having built a magnificent banqueting hall and prepared a feast. The meats and the spiced wines are the teachings of Wisdom. The maids are the prophets, apostles and preachers whom God at different times has sent to invite men to practise virtue; and their message is delivered from the housetops, for it is addressed to all. Not all, however, give ear. Simple, childlike people listen, and are persuaded.

This extract calls to mind the ninth chapter of the Autobiography of St. Teresa of Lisieux. She wanted to be a saint, but felt so small when she compared herself to the saints that it was like comparing a grain of sand to a mountain. That did not discourage her. Her desires, coming from God, must be attainable. Yet, the idea of growing up was impossible. She would remain little and weak always. But she would find a quite new little way, short and direct to heaven. She would discover an elevator to raise her up to Jesus, as she felt too small to climb the steep ladder of perfection. "Then I went to the Holy Bible to find this elevator, which I desired; and I read these words pronounced by the very mouth of eternal Wisdom: 'If anyone is quite little, let him come to me.' So I drew near to God, well knowing that I had discovered what I sought; but wishing to know further what He would do to the quite little one, I continued my search and this is what I found: 'As a mother caresseth her child, so will I console you, I will carry you at my breast and will dandle you on my knees' (Is., Ixvi. 13). Never before did words so tender and so musical gladden my soul. Your arms, O Jesus, are the lift which is to raise me up to heaven. For that I have no need to grow big, but on the contrary must remain and become more and more a little one. O my God, you have surpassed my expectations, and I desire to sing your mercies."

To arrange the text of Chapters x-xxii. 16 is an easy matter, for these Chapters consist of a succession of distichs without any logical sequence. Chapters xxv-xxix are much the same, except that many proverbs treating of the same subject are grouped together, and the couplet is sometimes expanded into a stanza of four or more lines.

A wise son maketh the father glad, 
But a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.

Treasures of wickedness shall profit nothing, 
But justice shall deliver from death.

Hatred stirreth up strifes, 
And charity covereth all sins.

In the multitude of words there shall not want sin, 
But he that refraineth his lips is most wise.

The remaining parts of the Book containing the "Sayings of the Wise" (Chapters xxii. 17-xxiv, inclusive) and the last two Chapters can be arranged without much trouble, as an attentive reading of the text will show in each case where the sense ends and a new subject begins.