Sirach 6:33-37: a reflection

33If you love to hear, you will receive. If you incline your ear, you will be wise. 34Stand in the multitude of the elders. Attach yourself to whomever is wise. 35Be willing to listen to every godly discourse. Don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you. 36If you see a man of understanding, get to him early. Let your foot wear out the steps of his doors. 37Let your mind dwell on the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually on his commandments. He will establish your heart and your desire for wisdom will be given to you.

Sirach describes how wisdom is gained, and it is anything but passive. If you love to listen, he says, you will gain knowledge; incline your ear, and you will become wise. Stand in the company of the elders; attach yourself to whoever is wise. Seek out a person of understanding, and let your foot wear out his doorstep. Meditate continually on God's commandments. Do all this, and, he promises, God will establish your heart, and your desire for wisdom will be granted.

Notice how active the pursuit is. Wisdom does not simply fall on us; it is sought, eagerly. The wise learner loves to listen, seeks out those who know more, wears out their doorstep with visits, immerses himself in God's commands. It is a hungry, deliberate pursuit, drawing near to the wise, listening hard, meditating on God's word, refusing to let understanding slip by. Wisdom comes to those who go after it like this.

That is a challenge to how we pursue wisdom and growth. We often want to be wiser without doing the seeking, hoping understanding will arrive on its own. Sirach says otherwise: incline your ear, seek out the wise, wear out their doorstep, meditate on God's word. And to those who pursue it so eagerly, God grants the desire of their heart. If you long to grow in wisdom, go after it: listen hungrily, seek out those wiser than you, soak in God's commandments. Pursue wisdom actively, and trust the promise that God will establish the heart that truly seeks it.

Lord, Sirach says wisdom comes to those who pursue it eagerly, who love to listen, seek out the wise, wear out their doorstep, and meditate on your commands. Give me that hunger. Keep me from wanting to be wise without doing the seeking. Help me listen humbly, draw near to those wiser than me, and soak in your word, trusting your promise to establish the heart that truly seeks wisdom. Grant me the desire of a heart that pursues you.