TRUE WISDOM IS A GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God and Jesus Christ,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

TRUE WISDOM IS A GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

"Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this
age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in
the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it
pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save
those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:20-21).

Orthodox Church Holy Fathers distinguish between "human wisdom" (earthly, prideful, and intellectual) and "God’s wisdom" (humble, experiential, and incarnate in Christ). True wisdom is a gift of the Holy Spirit gained through purification of the heart, , not just intellectual capacity. Christ Himself is the Wisdom of God. We understand that human wisdom is limited to rational faculties and often tainted by pride. Divine Wisdom is a gift from God characterized by humility, peace, and mercy (Gk. eleos). In our Holy Orthodox Church Tradition, Holy Wisdom is always identified with the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ, Who is the Wisdom of God.

It is a matter of fact that knowledge (gnosis) can be acquired through study, but wisdom (sofia) is an experience of God Himself and is considered a higher virtue. The Holy Fathers of the Church stress that true wisdom resides in the "heart" — the center of spiritual life, rather than merely the intellect. According to Holy Tradition Divine Wisdom guides believers toward THEOSIS (DEIFICATION/UNION WITH GOD). The path to Divine Wisdom according to the Holy Fathers, such as the Desert Fathers, taught that worldly wisdom must be surrendered to receive God’s Wisdom. True is acquired through a life of obedience, prayer, (especially the Jesus Prayer), and the cleansing of the mind and heart. However, only the humble can attain this wisdom, as pride obstructs the grace of the Holy Spirit. An example of true wisdom is Saint Anthony the Great who regardless of formal education, demonstrated God’s Will in his life and actions.

"O LORD, how manifold are Thy works in wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is full of Thy riches" (Psalm 104:24). According to Saint John Chrysostom, wisdom is the supreme, incomprehensible, and Eternal Truth manifested through our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ and the Gospel, acting as the antidote to worldly folly and sin. It prioritizes eternal salvation over earthly pleasures, urging believers to act as "wise serpents" who sacrifice everything–reputation, wealth, and comfort — to preserve their faith and salvation. Anything NOT aligned with Christ is considered "foolishness and madness," driven by the passions of sin. Saint John, also, calls the Gospel and salvation by the Cross "Wisdom," emphasizing that the "perfect" are those who recognize the worthlessness of worldly pursuits and embrace this spiritual path. He advises beings "wise as a serpent" to protect one’s faith, but tempering it with "innocence" (innocent as doves) to refuse retaliation against those who attack.

True wisdom is living for the next life, not this one. Because human praise is fleeting, one should only seek to please God through repentance and virtue, knowing that focusing on earthly vanity is a mistake. God’s Divine Wisdom is vast and unsearchable, acting as the guide and "Artisan of all thoughts and deeds." The truly wise person lives for the benefit of others, acting as a steward of goodness. He emphasizes that true wisdom is often found in humility, self-control, and the avoidance of anger against enemies. According to Saint John Chrysostom, wisdom (sofia) is not theoretical knowledge but a lifestyle that prioritizes God’s commands over human approval.

Darkness seems to be more suitable than light to those that are diseased in their eyesight: wherefore they betake themselves by preference to some room that is thoroughly shade over. This also is the case with the wisdom which is spiritual. As the wisdom which is of God seemed to be foolishness unto those without: so their own wisdom, being foolishness indeed, was accounted by them wisdom.

Another Holy Father of the Church Saint Basil the Great contrasted God’s Wisdom with human foolishness by emphasizing that true knowledge comes from divine light rather than worldly intellect. He famously described his spiritual awakening as moving from "vain" worldly knowledge to the Gospel, urging believers to reject self- exaltation. Saint Basil argued that what the world considers wise is "made foolish by God" (1 Corinthians 1:2)), and that true wisdom lies in understanding the "nothingness" of worldly power and intelligence compared to divine truth. Saint Basil recalled a spiritual awakening where he woke from a "deep sleep" of wasted time on "follies: to embrace the "wonderful light of the Gospel truth." He also warned against prideful self-exaltation, urging believers to follow the example of Christ’s humility rather than the "teachers of wisdom" that God made foolish.

One can clearly see that human beings continue to act without God’s wisdom but rather follow their own foolish "wisdom"and pride and therefore repeat the same mistakes over and over again. The results are always tragic and destructive. No one can argue the fact that man is responsible for all wickedness and chaos. Historically man is responsible for all world and regional wars, injustice, corruption, arrogance, faithlessness, greed, domination, exploitation of other human beings, cruelty and lack of respect for all living things. Millions upon millions of people have been sacrificed on the altar of seeking complete power, control and enslavement of the human race. This, indeed, indicates how bereft of any wisdom or even of any virtue he is. It is totally irrational that God sent His Only-Begotten Son to the earth to save mankind from evil and death and in turn to grant humanity a place in His heavenly Kingdom and yet humanity rejected Him and His gift. Is that not foolishness?

In the Gospel of Matthew 6:33 we are taught, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Calling us to be set free from anxiety about earthly things, Jesus directs us to look to heaven, to this great country which will be received at the Day of the Lord, secure in the faith that God will provide needed earthly blessings.

Pray for personal enlightenment and God’s Divine Wisdom to guide your every step, thought and every action.

_______________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Glorious and Life-Giving Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George