Wisdom & Gentleness.

Don't you just love when the readings of Mass speak perfectly to your current situation? That's what happened to me yesterday. 

"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;... with revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience."

 -Wisdom 2:12&19

Anybody can be gentle in the calm times but it is not until one is pressed and prodded, tempted and attacked, can virtue be 'proven'. It's a gift, really. If God never gave us hard times -- never pushed us to the limit -- it would be very difficult to perfect and better ourselves.

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. ... Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from?Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?" 

-James 3:16-17, 4:1

I do not know how loved I am. I do not know how precious each and every person is in Your sight. Your wisdom purifies and bring peace through clarity. Wisdom allows us to see the world as it really is; it allows us to understand Truths which lead us to a fuller understanding of the reality in which we live. The more we know of the laws that govern our world, the better we will be able to live in it. "..without inconstancy or insincerity." Who doesn't want that? This world is hectic and crazy; full of fallen, unreliable people. Truth is the beautiful, solid, untainted bond that holds everything together and makes it work. 

How incredible it is that we creatures are able to participate in such glory. How amazing that we are able to grasp bits and pieces of Truth. Wow. We are so fallen! We are dirt but we have been given the beautiful and glorious gift of an intellect. Knowledge raises up to the one we are knowing -- words cannot describe how awesome this is. ( I'll try to keep this in mind next time I am faced with a pile of homework :P )