A
question: Who is Lady Wisdom? She is generally understood to be a
personification of God’s Spirit, proceeding from God and sent into the world.
But I would tentatively suggest that this woman, given poetic voice by the
compilers of the Proverbs, embodies the deep connection – the union, or
communion – between God’s Spirit and the human spirit. Either way, this
is an appropriate text for the first Sunday after Pentecost.
We
meet her moving throughout Jerusalem. She is to be spotted:
‘on the heights’ – that is, the Temple
mount, the focal place to which pilgrims stream. Transfer her to Sunderland, and
that might be the Stadium of Light, or the Empire theatre;
then
‘beside the way’ – on any main route
within the city: such as the central Library, or the Winter Gardens and Museum,
or the cafés on Holmeside;
next
‘at the crossroads’ – perhaps, the
point at which various sellers of wares try to entice passers-by to stop, turn
aside, and buy. That might describe the Bridges shopping centre (which happens
to be a staggered crossroads in its layout);
also
‘besides the gates in front of the town’
– or, the main gathering-place where business was transacted and legal disputes
heard: which might be the Magistrates Courts, Keel Square, and developing
Cultural Quarter;
and
finally ‘at the entrance of the portals’
– the various other points of entry into the city: which might include the bus
interchange (or even bus stops), the train station, and indeed the river mouth
and port.
What
form does Lady Wisdom’s wisdom take? On the basis of a deep
appreciation of God’s ongoing work of Creation (verses 22-29), wisdom is
expressed as:
experiencing
mutual delight and rejoicing between Source and that to which the Source gives
being (verse 30);
recognising
creation as a whole to be a generous and considered gift (verse 31);
and
taking delight in all people, and in the diverse social interactions that make
us persons (verse 31).
There’s
something of this same wisdom in our Gospel reading, where Jesus speaks of a
deep mutual sharing with the Father, and of the Holy Spirit as our street guide
in entering deeper into this deepest reality. (It is there, also, in our lesson
from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. But that is another sermon in itself!*)
I
think we are well-invested in the idea of finding God in special places, be
that a building like the Minster or a mountainside, or in special moments such
as a stunning sunset. In withdrawing from the crowds to meet with God – and
Jesus certainly modelled that for us. But the scandal of Jesus’ parables is his
insistence that we might stumble upon God in the midst of the world: while working
in our allotment, or investing in a business opportunity, or standing in front
of a heartless civil servant, or as we search the house with increasing
desperation trying to find something we have mislaid. Or that we might even
stumble across God while observing someone else doing any of those things: if
Jesus can see God’s hand in the flour-covered hands of a woman kneading bread,
might we catch a glimpse of God behind the counter at Greggs? According to Proverbs, the whole city centre is alive
with opportunities for our spirit to meet with God’s Spirit. Even standing at
the bus stop.
So,
how might we train ourselves to become more aware of what is right under our
own feet?
Firstly,
we can Learn the patterns by which God is at work creating. This time
of year, it is in the cherry blossom and unfurling leaves; but perhaps it is
also in the building sites around the city centre, evidence of regeneration?
Might we take a more child-like interest in our changing urban landscape? Might
we go exploring, taking detours from our familiar routes, if our legs will
still carry us?
Secondly,
we can Offer everything back to God in thanks and praise. For every
good news story – for what has been, what is, and what will be – give thanks. Thanking
God for buildings and services provided, and for those who will work there, in
that college, that venue, that hotel, that shop. And offer ourselves: our
attention, our care, our participation.
Thirdly,
we can Value our surroundings. Visit the library or the museum. Eat
lunch sat out on the grass. Pick up litter. Speak up for threatened services.
Speak well of Sunderland.
Fourthly,
we can Enjoy people. They are endlessly fascinating. They can be hilarious.
They are often laden with burdens, that can be lightened – if not removed – by
a smile, by looking them in the eyes, by sitting next to them on a bench and
sharing whatever passes by. They can also disarm and reveal ourselves to us,
where we have tried to hide from ourselves – though a warning: this often
happens, if it happens at all, just after they have done something that has
made us reach for a curse rather than a blessing.
Learn,
Offer, Value, Enjoy. El – Oh – Vee – Eee. Love. Say ‘yes’ to entering into the
love that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share, and invite us into,
and the city becomes a playground of that love. And that is wisdom, in its
glory. Amen.
Intercessions
Let
us pray for the city centre that lies to the north, south, east, and west of
us.
Spirit
of the living God, poured out on us and on all, we look north. We pray for the
Empire theatre, and for the great theatre of dreams beyond the river. As our
human nature is laid bare in the stories that are told, may we be slow to judge
others and quick to show compassion.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Spirit
of the living God, poured out on us and on all, we look south. We pray for the
bus interchange; for those who come into the city, pass through, or leave the
city behind; for the young people who gather there in search of safety in
numbers.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Spirit
of the living God, poured out on us and on all, we look east. We pray for the
Bridges, for those who work there, for those in search of something, for those
who wait there to appear in court, and those who are just passing the time of
day. We pray that as the Day Pastors is re-established next month, that we
would see you in others, and be able to point to you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Spirit
of the living God, poured out on us and on all, we look west. We pray for the
university, for those who teach and those who work in supporting roles, for
students and for their families; asking that they might flourish and that they
might not simply discover new information, nor even mere knowledge, but grow in
wisdom.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Spirit
of the living God, poured out on us and on all, we take a moment to bring
before you our lives, the places we will go this week, those we will meet and
those we carry in our hearts.
Merciful Father,
accept
these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
*BONUS MATERIAL
It
is there, also, in our lesson from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, in his
insight that ‘suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope.’ When we come across the word ‘suffering’ in the New
Testament [and the same English word ‘suffer’ might translate one of several
different words in the Greek] it does not simply
mean ‘difficult or painful experience’ – though
it may include that – but carries the sense of being in a situation where
something is done to you, or happens to you, which you can resist or embrace
but, crucially, differs from a situation of your doing or making happen.
Being
a recipient of the gift of being – which we did nothing to bring about – is the
ultimate example of suffering, of having something done for us that we could not do
ourselves. To receive our life, and the world in which we live, as gift in turn
produces endurance: the ability to keep on going through (in particular)
the painful experiences – even to delight in people, when their actions towards
us or others are far from delightful. Endurance in its turn produces character:
or shapes us for wisdom, for that communion between our spirit and God’s Spirit
– and the kind of impact our spirit has on other people’s spirit. And character
produces hope, which enables us to keep finding ourselves with Lady
Wisdom in the public square, even in the face of all evidence that suggests
that more people will ignore her than will listen.
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