Here is today’s Old Testament reading, from Ecclesiasticus: ‘All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever. The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity – who can count them? The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom – who can search them out? Wisdom was created before all things, and prudent understanding from eternity. The root of wisdom – to whom has it been revealed? Her clever devices – who knows them? There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne. The Lord himself created wisdom; he saw her and apportioned her; he poured her out upon all his works. She dwells with all flesh according to his gift, and he supplied her to those who love him’.

St Augustine wrote in his Confessions: ‘“Wisdom was created before all things” not certainly that Wisdom that is clearly coeternal and equal to you, our God, his Father, and by whom all things were created and in whom, as the Beginning, you created heaven and earth. Rather, truly, it was that wisdom that has been created, namely, the intellectual nature that, in the contemplation of light, is light. For this is called wisdom, although it is created. But as great as the difference is between the Light that enlightens and that which is enlightened, so great is the difference between the Wisdom that creates and that which has been created …’

Today, let us ask God for that Wisdom that was created before all things, and which He supplies to those who love Him. It is in loving that our capacity to receive is increased; so let us love Him, and He will do the rest. May God bless you.