Scripture: Wisdom of Solomon 4:8-9 – “For old age is not honored for length of time or measured by number of years, but understanding is gray hair for anyone, and a blameless life is ripe old age.” (NRSVue)
If you have never watched Star Trek in your entire life, you probably still know the Vulcan blessing, “Live long, and proper.” This echoes ancient Earth wisdom that to live a long life full of health and wealth is a sign of favor from God, or fate, or whatever higher power might be addressed in a blessing. At least in times of old, people who lived into an age when their hair began to gray were considered to have enough wisdom and experience to be exemplars of a community, guiding them through practical, ethical, and spiritual questions. On the other hand, young people lacked wisdom and perspective and were more likely engage in rash or hedonistic behavior. As the aged often lament, “youth is wasted on the young.”
But it is also said that “age is just a number.” And indeed, when it comes to righteousness, the young are just as likely to do the right thing as the old. Some might argue that the young are more likely to do the right thing, for they have not become jaded by a lifetime full of disappointment.
This is an argument found in the Wisdom of Solomon or the Book of Wisdom, a book found in the Old Testament of Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, but not Protestant ones. Most scholars, ancient and modern, believe it is written in the tradition of Solomon, like Proverbs or the Song of Solomon, rather than by Solomon himself. It was especially beloved by Herman Melville and was influential in the writing of Moby Dick and other works. And it still has a lot of “wisdom” to teach us today.
The Book of Wisdom argues that it is not length of years that brings perspective, but faith. Many people live long lives of selfishness and cruelty; as my wife would say, they are “too mean to die.” And others are “too good for this world,” dying perhaps before their time but leaving a legacy of love and honor. Wisdom mentions a young man who was not perverted by the pleasures of life, but died young, leaving an example for some and confounding others. Some interpreters think this story might refer to Jesus, and this idea clearly influenced works like the Gospel according to John. Jesus died young, but to those of faith, he was the “Ancient of Days” and contained all the wisdom of the ages.
The passage of time is on my mind as we say good-bye to 2022 and look forward to 2023. Some say that we are moving ever toward a brighter and more just future. Others say things were better in the past. But Wisdom teaches us that time is what you make of it. You can do the right thing no matter how old you are, no matter what year it is, and no matter where you live or where you are on life’s journey. Keep that example of Jesus before you and have a happy New Year.
Prayer: God, may I find more faith, hope, and love in the days ahead no matter what the circumstances. Amen.
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