November 8, 2026 Written by ChatGPT and Jennifer Moore
Wisdom of Solomon 6:12–20
This morning, I would like to spend a little time talking about something we all hope to gain as we grow older, but something that doesn’t necessarily come with age. And that is wisdom. We often think of wisdom as something that comes from years of experience. We imagine that the older we get, the wiser we become. But I think most of us would agree that age and wisdom don’t always go hand in hand!
We have all known people who have lived long lives but still struggle to make wise decisions. And sometimes we meet a young person who surprises us with wisdom far beyond their years. So what exactly is wisdom? And more importantly, what does the Bible teach us about it?
Our first reading this morning comes from the Book of Wisdom, sometimes called the Wisdom of Solomon. Now, some of you may be wondering where this book is found in the Bible. We don’t hear readings from it nearly as often as we do from Genesis, Psalms, or Matthew. The Book of Wisdom is part of a collection of writings known as the Apocrypha. These books were written during the centuries surrounding the time of Jesus and were included in the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by many early Christians.
The Book of Wisdom was most likely written in Greek, probably in Alexandria, Egypt, during the first century before Christ. Although it bears Solomon’s name, scholars generally believe it was written by an unknown Jewish author who used Solomon’s reputation for wisdom to teach others about faithfulness to God.
And here is something interesting about our Episcopal tradition. The Episcopal Church includes the Apocrypha in its biblical tradition. These books are read in our worship and valued for their spiritual teaching. Our Anglican Articles of Religion explain that the Church reads them for examples of life and instruction in godly living, though not as the basis for establishing doctrine. So while the Book of Wisdom may not be as familiar to us as some other books of the Bible, it has much to teach us.
And today’s passage is a particularly beautiful example.
It begins: “Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her.”
I love that description. Wisdom is radiant and unfading. It is not something that wears out, loses its value, or becomes outdated.
And notice that wisdom is described as “she.” Throughout the wisdom writings of the Bible, wisdom is often personified as a woman. She is pictured as someone who calls to us, guides us, and even comes looking for us.
The writer tells us that wisdom can be found sitting at the gate, waiting for those who seek her. Think about that for a moment.
We sometimes imagine that finding God’s direction requires a great deal of searching. We may feel that we have to pray harder, study more, or somehow become better Christians before we can understand what God wants from us.
But this passage gives us a different picture. Wisdom is not hiding from us. Wisdom is waiting to be discovered. God invites us to seek understanding with open hearts and willing minds. And sometimes, the greatest challenge is not finding wisdom. It is being quiet enough to recognize it.
We live in a world filled with opinions, advice, distractions, and noise. Everyone seems to have an answer, and often those answers are very different. But wisdom is not the same thing as having an opinion. Wisdom asks us to listen before we speak, to think before we act, and to consider the needs of others alongside our own. Wisdom teaches us humility. It reminds us that we do not have all the answers, and that sometimes the wisest words we can say are, “I don’t know, but I am willing to learn.”
The second part of our reading tells us:
“The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction.”
In other words, wisdom begins with a willingness to be taught. Not with knowing everything. Not with being right all the time. But with recognizing that we still have something to learn. And that is an important lesson for every one of us, no matter our age or how long we have been part of the Church. The passage goes on to connect wisdom with love, obedience to God’s ways, and ultimately drawing nearer to God.
That is really the heart of biblical wisdom. It is not simply about becoming smarter. It is about becoming more faithful. It is about allowing what we learn from God to shape how we live. We can know every verse of Scripture and still fail to show kindness. We can attend church every Sunday and still struggle to forgive. We can speak confidently about our faith and still forget to listen to someone who sees things differently. Wisdom challenges us to bring our beliefs into our everyday actions. It asks whether our words are patient, whether our decisions are thoughtful, and whether our actions reflect the love of Christ.
And I believe this message is especially meaningful for us here at St. Stephen’s. We are in a season of change and discernment. There are decisions ahead of us, questions to consider, and a future that we cannot yet see clearly. And naturally, we may have different thoughts about what that future should look like. But perhaps this is exactly where today’s reading can guide us.
We are reminded that wisdom begins with a sincere desire to learn. That means listening to one another. It means being willing to consider ideas that may be different from our own. It means asking not simply, “What do I want?” but “What is God calling us to do together?” And it means remembering that God’s wisdom is not limited to one person, one committee, or one particular point of view. We are a community of faith, and we seek God’s direction together.
Our Gospel reading from Matthew gives us another picture of wisdom. Jesus tells the parable of the ten bridesmaids, five wise and five foolish, waiting for the bridegroom to arrive. The wise bridesmaids have brought extra oil for their lamps. They understand that waiting may take longer than expected, and they are prepared. The foolish bridesmaids have not prepared for the delay. And when the bridegroom finally arrives, they are not ready.
At first glance, this may seem like a simple lesson about planning ahead. But I think Jesus is teaching us something deeper. Being wise means living faithfully even when we do not know what comes next. It means keeping our spiritual lamps filled with prayer, compassion, patience, service, and love. It means not allowing uncertainty to become an excuse for standing still.
We may not know exactly what the next chapter will bring, but there is much we can do today. We can care for one another. We can welcome those who walk through our doors. We can support our ministries, encourage our neighbors, and continue to be the Church God calls us to be. And perhaps most importantly, we can continue to grow in our relationship with God.
Our reading from First Thessalonians reminds us that our faith is also grounded in hope. Paul tells the early Christians not to grieve as those who have no hope, because through Jesus Christ we have the promise of resurrection and eternal life. That hope does not mean that life will always be easy or that we will never face uncertainty. It means that we can trust God even when we cannot see the whole picture.
So these three readings offer us something wonderful to carry into the week ahead. From Wisdom, we learn to seek God’s guidance. From Thessalonians, we learn to live with hope. And from Matthew, we learn to remain faithful and prepared. Wisdom, hope, and faithfulness. Three gifts that can guide us through almost anything life brings.
I would like to leave you with one final thought.
Perhaps wisdom is not about having all the answers. Perhaps it is about learning to ask better questions. Instead of asking, “Why aren’t things happening the way I want?” we might ask, “What can God teach me through this?” Instead of asking, “Who is right?” we might ask, “How can we better understand one another?” And instead of worrying so much about what tomorrow will bring, perhaps we can ask, “How can I live more faithfully today?”
Because the beautiful promise of our reading is that wisdom is not far away. She is waiting at the gate. She meets us along our paths. And she comes to those who sincerely seek her.
May we have the humility to listen, the courage to learn, and the faith to follow wherever God’s wisdom leads us.
Amen.