June 16, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for June 16th: Proverbs 8:1-4,22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-25: Theme: Father’s Day Proverbs: Proverbs is a mother’s advice to her son, who will one day be a prince. She knows that he is a teenager, but she does not want him to get distracted from his task by doing stupid things. In this verse, she is saying that lady wisdom shouts from the streets, but no one wants to listen. She tells her son that there is a connection between wisdom and God. Wisdom is personified as lady wisdom, or Sophia. The scriptures say that Sophia has been when God since God created the world. She has always been God’s closest advisor. So she too wants to come to earth to help people in their relationship with God. She too is in the throne room with God enjoying the presence of God. But she also likes being with the people. Romans: Paul is trying to tell us that when we have faith in God everything falls into place because we have everything that we need: We have peace, love, hope and endurance. As faithful people, we have just as much suffering as anyone else. But when we have faith we know that our suffering is never in vain. Going through the trials helps us to learn to endure pain. But it also gives us hope that trouble never comes to last forever, but hope, peace and love are ours to keep forever. The Holy Spirit never goes away, and neither does the gifts that it brings us. Questions: What advice did your mother give you growing up? Did you think of her advice as wise? What suffering have you had to endure? Did your faith help you in that journey? How?