Painting of Christ in front of Pilate by Munkacsy, from Wikimedia Commons
I can’t help it. When I am happy I write. There is no guarantee of course that what comes out is useful or beautiful. But here goes. This may have been a very unwise choice. What do I know? Let me know at the bottom, please.
Emma didn’t know just what outfit to pick out to wear. Should it be the conservative blue suit, bordering on masculinity, or her favorite, a bright red pantsuit that shouted confidence. No. As a woman, she could not appear too confident or she might be labeled a bitch. Bad. Bad. Bad!
What about something in between? A conservative suit with a dash of color in the scarf and her matching heels. Yes, that would do.
As she dressed she rehearsed the presentation. “Good morning, everyone. I am very happy to be here…” No, maybe not very happy. “Good morning, gentlemen. I am happy to be here…” She continued through the presentation, which she had memorized, pausing to make corrections in tempo or delivery. She had done this before, but not here at Sacré-Cœur University. This was a first for her, speaking to seminarian students and their faculty.
Her subject was philosophy, particularly the ontological basis for truth as found in religious sects. It was generally well received in secular universities, and people responded well to her thesis that truth was relative because there was no ontological grounding for truth except in some holy books, and they did not agree with each other. In fact, many did not explicitly discuss truth, but based their teaching on authority or blind faith. She wondered which attitude she would find here. Her book was all the rage among the intellectuals and literati she knew. But this was the last place she would have thought would want her to speak.
She smiled and blew a kiss to herself as she left the room.
As she wrapped up her presentation, she noticed a certain chilliness in the atmosphere. There were downcast eyes, a few crossed arms, and drumming fingers. A scowl or two. Only one white-bearded old gentleman was smiling.
The host opened it up for questions. And the old man stood up with a Bible in his hand. “I think you might find this passage interesting,” he said, “This is our holy book, which I am sure you know. You may even know the passage I am about to read.”
He smiled again, and began.
All wisdom is from the Lord, and with him it remains forever. The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity—who can count them? The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom—who can search them out? Wisdom was created before all other things, and prudent understanding from eternity. The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed? Her subtleties—who knows them? There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared, seated upon his throne—the Lord. It is he who created her; he saw her and took her measure; he poured her out upon all his works, upon all the living according to his gift; he lavished her upon those who love him. From Sirach 1:1-10.
“Yes, well,” she began. But her interlocuter cut her off.
“Wait, I have a few more passages. Here is the next,” as he quickly flipped to it. “From the book of Ecclesiastes.
Reflections of a Royal Philosopher
The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,[b]
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
What do people gain from all the toil
at which they toil under the sun?
A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun goes down,
and hurries to the place where it rises.
The wind blows to the south,
and goes around to the north;
round and round goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they continue to flow.
All things[c] are wearisome;
more than one can express;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
or the ear filled with hearing.
What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has already been,
in the ages before us.
The people of long ago are not remembered,
nor will there be any remembrance
of people yet to come
by those who come after them.The Futility of Seeking Wisdom
I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, 13 applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. 14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.I said to myself, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.
For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow.”
“What do you make of these two passages?” the white-bearded man asked. “There are many more, for the Jewish people were thoughtful, and sought after truth. There is a whole section of the Catholic Bible devoted to the Wisdom literature. Tell me, would you equate wisdom with truth?”
Emma stammered, ” I don’t know. I would have to…” She paused and blushed. “I would have to examine the scriptures and look at the context and history.”
“I have a simple solution for you,” he said.
At this point, Emma was quite flustered. She had lost control of the situation, something that had never happened before. ”All right,” she said in what she hoped was a calm voice.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1.”
One more,” he said.
“For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” John 18:37
“Do you hear his voice?” he asked.
There was silence in the room.
A much humbled Emma spoke softly. “You know, I have read all those passages separately. Never assembled as you did, though. I heard his voice in what you read. I have sought truth and wisdom all my days, but forgot where I could find it. In all my studies, I was too concerned with my academic reputation. Vanity of vanities.” The old man went to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
“No worries. This is a place of mercy—Sacré-Cœur.” He said gently.
One of the seminarians slapped his desk and said, “There we have it. Too much study is a vanity and a folly. “For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow.”
The Dean stood up and scanned the chuckling students. “I hate to disrupt this moment of jollity, but there is still a midterm tomorrow. I am adding an essay on the ontological basis for truth as extra credit.”
Mixed laughter and groaning filled the room.