When we think of wisdom, we may picture an elderly man with a long white beard, corn cob pipe in his mouth, rocking back and forth in his chair, and uttering wise sayings such as ''A penny saved is a penny earned.'' But that is not the biblical meaning of wisdom. In the Bible wisdom is not theoretical or abstract. It is practical. It has to do with the right, the wise, way to live.
King Solomon prayed for wisdom, not so that he could sit comfortably in his palace and ponder the verities of the universe. He asked God to give him wisdom, an understanding heart, so that he could govern his people properly. We need to ask God to grant us this gift, or more precisely to increase it within us, because we received wisdom, a gift of the Holy Spirit, when we were confirmed. Wisdom guides us in fulfilling our responsibilities. Parents have the grave duty of rearing children. They are the first and primary educators of their children, even in the matter of religion. Next we may think of priests, teachers, doctors, police, and all the many professions which serve people, and yet we all have responsibilities toward ourselves.
Perhaps the wisest way to consider our responsibilities is to ponder what the practical values are in our lives. What are our goals? What are our ambitions? What do we really want in life? Also to be aware that, responsibilities, even for a wise person, can be a heavy burden. St. Paul, surely one of the wisest of people, wrote: ''We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him.'' It is a vital part of wisdom to rely on God, to place ourselves in his hands, to pray for his help, to acknowledge that all good gifts come from God. May the good Lord grant each of us the gift of Wisdom. Amen.