Virtue: Wisdom
Resolution: I choose to seek the mind of Christ and discern the appropriate response.

Human Story: Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274)

Our virtue for this month is wisdom—I choose to seek the mind of Christ and discern the appropriate response—and there is a scene from Thomas Aquinas’s life that humorously, but also seriously, illustrates this in action.

Thomas Aquinas was born the youngest boy of nine children to a fairly wealthy family about midway between Rome and Naples, Italy. When he was five years old, he was sent to the famous Benedictine monastery, the Abby of Monte Cassino, which was almost visible from his family’s castle in Roccasecca. The apparent plan of his parents was for Thomas to eventually become Abbot of the large monastery and expand the Aquino family political influence. When he was close to 15 years old, Thomas went to Naples for theological studies.

As he was working through the curriculum of grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy, and philosophy, he came in contact with a newly formed evangelistic monastic group called the Order of Preachers (also called Dominicans). Unlike the Benedictines, this was a mendicant religious order, which means they rely on begging and charity to exist.  (Benedictines, while also committed to poverty, are often self-sustaining in their monastic life.) In 1244, Thomas took vows and adopted the habit of the Dominicans. His parents were not happy with his decision and sent his brothers to return Thomas to the family castle where he was placed under house arrest. And this is where we enter the somewhat humorous scene.

In order to return Thomas’s attention to family matters and away from his monastic devotion, his family sent to his room a prostitute. Within moments Thomas chased the prostitute out of his room with a burning log (or hot poker, depending on the account). He then returned to his room, shut the door and inscribed a cross on it with the log, committing to a life of purity and chastity. (It is said that he was visited by angels, given a gift of chastity, and was never tempted by lust again.) Within a couple of months, Thomas’s family relented, and he returned to his studies. He went on to write theology that places him among the most influential theological minds of the church.

Perhaps chasing people with fiery instruments is not the best response to tactics meant to distract us from our purpose, but such a response does suggest the vigor with which we should approach how we are to act on the mind of Christ. Having discerned that he could best serve Christ and the church through study, teaching, and preaching, Thomas vowed a lifetime vocation dedicated to such service, and displayed wisdom in resisting tempting alternatives.

Resources: G.K. Chesterton, Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox.
Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologica (see 2-2, q47-56 for his explanation of wisdom)

Lesson: James 3:13-17 (NIV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Thomas Aquinas is one of the first theologians in Christian history to offer a lengthy treatment of the virtue of wisdom. It is clear that while he is influenced by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, he is even more conditioned and informed by the words of Scripture. For Aquinas wisdom consists in discerning the ultimate good end, which is union with God, discerning the appropriate pathways to that end, and then acting on the means to the end. The influence of the Letter of James is right on the surface of his explanation. Wisdom, as James tells us and Aquinas echoes, is not merely being informed about what “the mind of Christ” might contain or think, rather that is only the first step. True wisdom is active: Who is wise? The one who has the actions to match their beliefs.

Not just any actions or dispositions of the heart can count as wisdom and James makes this obvious to us: bitter envy, which is a kind of greed; selfish ambition, which is a kind of pride; and dishonesty about one’s motivations and intentions. Unlike “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” wisdom, wisdom from heaven—that which is a generous gift from God (James 1:5)—is honest. Godly wisdom first requires a clear-eyed view of oneself and reality (a wise person authentically asks, “Am I being envious, selfish, boastful, etc.?”). Yet, merely being honest is not enough—it is only a start. Discerning the mind of Christ, comparing my own mind to that, and recognizing both the points of connection and disconnection, is only a beginning. From there, no matter the specifics of the particular situation, we know that acting with a demeanor of peace, consideration, submission (that is, humility), mercy, impartiality, sincerity, and with an intention for that which is good, true, and right, will ensure we are on the right track to living out the appropriate response to the mind of Christ. 

As we seek to become wise, by discerning and learning the mind of Christ, we can know that habituating other important traits will begin to make us wise because they are the character of Christ. So, while we should seek God for wisdom about important decisions and situations, we should also seek to become people who are “[peacemakers], considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” By doing this we will have already discerned at least part of the mind of Christ and begun to act appropriately in light of it.

Remembrance

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen. -       Thomas Aquinas

Challenge

Seeking the wisdom of God according to Aquinas consists of three steps:

1. Discerning the ultimate good end

2. Discerning the appropriate pathways to that end

3. Acting on the means to the end

Pursuing wisdom in this way takes practice, so this week as you come across everyday situations that require wisdom, take the time to walk through these three steps. Then when you have an important decision to make, you will be better equipped to seek the mind of Christ.

Reflection

Do you have temptations in your life that you need to chase from your mind or circumstances with a “fiery log?”

Further Growth

2021: Book of Common Prayer, Proper 17

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 4:1-9
Psalm: Psalm 15
New Testament: Ephesians 6:10-20
Gospel: Mark 7:1-23

2020

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 18:15-18
Psalm: Psalm 91
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 4:9-16
Gospel: Luke 22:24-30