(Wis.7:7-11; Ps.90:12-17; Heb.4:12-13; Mk.10:17-30) "The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword." "Penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart… everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must render an account." Here is His Spirit of Wisdom, whose "splendor… never yields to sleep," who has "countless riches at her hands." It is this penetrating Wisdom we must pray to be with us, if we are to save our immortal souls. Without her nothing has any worth at all. How shall we "number our days aright" and "gain wisdom of heart"? How shall we walk the road the Lord leads us upon and find His "gracious care" to "prosper the work of our hands"? How shall we avoid the emptiness the riches of this world inevitably bring and acquire the conviction needed to follow the Lord? The allure of gold, of mammon, is so great, is so easy to set our hearts upon – how shall we hear what the Lord says in love to the man who falls on his knees before Him: "Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven"? How shall we give up house and family and lands all "for [His] sake and for the sake of the Gospel" to find "a hundred times more" these things, "with persecutions, and eternal life in heaven"? Only by the Wisdom that comes from God, never by the thoughts of our own heart. Clearly the disciples do not yet understand this or they would not ask with such amazement, "Then who can be saved?" when told of the difficulties riches bring. For still, though not for long, their hearts are set on the things of this earth, and still they judge with a worldly eye. The vision that comes of the pure light of Wisdom will not be theirs until the flame of the Holy Spirit burns in their souls. Then their own spirits will be one with the Lord and they will be able to discern that "all gold, in view of her, is a little sand." Then the length and breadth and depth of their mission they will comprehend. Let the word of God be heard by all, spoken by all His prophets and priests. Let it pierce many hearts, that some may be saved by the grace that enters where it bleeds. Here is the only way to life. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "In Your Eyes" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, do we desire life with you, or the riches of this world? YHWH, your Son stands in our midst looking at us with love. To Himself He calls us that we might enter the kingdom. And who would not follow? What riches of this age are greater than the divine riches He offers? What else could we need if we have eternal life? With Him is true wisdom; let us give up all to follow in His way. O LORD, all gold is as a little dust to the one who has been blessed to see with your eyes, to the one who has been graced with your Wisdom. Though it be painful to stand in your light and be pierced by your sword, what glory it brings to your children! Your truth upon our souls, we have all the food we need. And so, what can persecutions bring us but greater joy? What can we lose in your Name that we will not regain a hundred times over? All things are in your hands, O LORD, and we live in your eyes. Pierce us with your Wisdom, that we might number our days aright.