Sermon- August 19, 2018

Pentecost 13B- August 19

Proverbs 9:1-6

            Imagine that you are standing in a forest, & 2 women call to you, each from a different direction. One is Woman Wisdom or Sophia as she is called in Greek. (Side note: We baptized a 20 month old girl named Sophia during this worship service.) We just heard about her in Proverbs 9. She is the wisdom of God, who stood alongside God at creation. She is the heart beat of God's creative genius.

            Woman Wisdom teaches us mortals about God, instructs us on our place in the universe, which is a place of honor mixed with humility beneath the Almighty. Woman Wisdom opens our minds to the highest instruction so that we grow in fragrant & nourishing righteousness.

            Woman Wisdom constructs her house on 7 pillars—7 being God's number of completed creation, so we know that Wisdom builds her house according to the Lord's blueprints. Then she puts on her apron & starts preparing the feast. This feast will fill you with God's wisdom.

            And then you hear her calling, "All you who are looking for wisdom; all you who are tired of the world's foolish frenzy, come in here. I offer you a feast. I serve you direction, purpose, clarity. I offer you holiness. I am Wisdom. Dinner is served. Taste & see that the LORD is good!"

            That is Woman Wisdom; but she is not the only woman we hear about in Proverbs 9. If you read the whole chapter, you’ll also hear about Woman Folly. Picture her--in a dress 2 sizes too small, Woman Folly calls to you, just as Woman Wisdom does. You step closer.

            Woman Folly winks at you & says, "Hey, Baby! All you who are looking for wisdom, all you who are tired of the world's endless rules: Come on in here. Come on in & try my forbidden fruit. The illegal, forbidden stuff is yummier, more exciting. I'll show you a real good time. Hey, Baby, why don't you come up & see me sometime!"

            She's hard to resist. Even if her flirtiness doesn’t appeal to you, her offering of a sumptuous feast does. You enter the house of Woman Folly. You sit at her table. The feast does look scrumptious. The aroma makes your mouth water. You fill your plate, take a bite. This is good! It tastes great; but, as you chew, your mind grows fuzzy, groggy, like you've been drugged. "What is this stuff?" you ask.

            Woman Folly says, "Oh, that's one of my favorites, Baby. That dish is called Closed-Mindedness Casserole. Isn't it decadent?"

            You pick up your goblet & drink. It’s bubbly & very sweet. Woman Folly says, "That drink is called Scoff-at-the-Spirit Spritzer. Isn't it sinful?"

            Suddenly you're sick to your stomach. You have some serious heartburn. "I don't feel well," you say. Woman Folly caresses your face with her hands. She reeks of perfume. "Don't worry, Baby,” she says. “You'll get used to it. Just keep eating & drinking. Here, eat some cake. I call it Better-than-God Cake. It's devil's food; &, Baby, it’s to die for."

            Then you hear another voice. "You're in danger," the voice says. So you excuse yourself to use the bathroom, where you splash cold water on your face. Water. Yes. Your mind wakes up. You remember who & whose you are. Then that voice that warned you now says, "Get out of there!" You recognize the voice. It's that of Woman Wisdom. You dash for the door & sprint through the woods, heading back toward the house less entered, the house of Woman Wisdom. And while you’re still far off, Woman Wisdom sees you & is filled with compassion. She runs & puts her arms around you & welcomes you home.

            She grabs you by the hand & pulls you inside. Her hand, you notice, has a hole in it. The other hand does, too. Wisdom is wounded. "For you," she says. Do you recognize her?

            That Woman Wisdom is here--right now. Whenever we hear someone read Scripture, Wisdom is feeding us. We may not always like the flavor of the passage; but we’re always being fed wisdom when we hear Scripture. Whenever we hear someone preach the Good News, Wisdom is feeding us too; even if the preacher isn't very talented.

            Whenever we gather for worship, Wisdom stands before us, feeding us. We know that whenever we’re sinking down from sin, & our hearts crawl to God, pleading for mercy, God grants us forgiveness, God liberates us. That is Wisdom.

            Whenever we pray, whether in lament, anger, joy, or intimacy, whether with fancy formality or eager earthiness, whether for hours or seconds, God hears our prayers, & responds with Wisdom. Woman Wisdom listens & replies! Whenever we participate in a baptism, she instructs us, renews us, reminding us of our own baptism. God's Wisdom washes us clean in a way we can never do ourselves, no matter how hard we scrub, no matter how long we soak in the tub.

            Whenever we hold out our hands to eat & drink Holy Communion, she feeds us in a special way, a way that cleanses us, strengthens us, reminds us of Christ's sacrifice for our salvation. Chew on the Wisdom; swallow the Wisdom; feel her warm your chest. Taste & see that the LORD is good!

            And whenever we hear & speak the Good News of eternal life through the cross—a wisdom that looks like foolishness--we are feasting upon Wisdom. Woman Wisdom holds us, gives us more, makes us stronger & bolder, reminds us that Christ is risen. Alleluia!

            Woman Wisdom feeds us, & then we feed each other. In the midst of life’s dark woods, she calls to us; & we follow the woman less listened to, & that makes all the difference. Amen.