Wisdom

Lectio:

WIS 7:7-11

I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,                                                                                   
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.

Studium:

The "I" is King Solomon.  He prayed for wisdom in his inaugural prayers as sovereign.  Solomon recognized wisdom as evidence of God's personal involvement.

Meditatio:

It's the first sentence that I'm interested in, because I'm trying to teach my RCIA candidates how to pray.  It's funny.  The first thing one needs to learn when learning to pray is to ask God to teach you to pray, just as Solomon asked God for wisdom.  Of course, the Lord's Prayer is the answer, but I'm interested in the asking.  Wisdom is wisdom but Solomon had to ask.

Oratio:

Lord, Solomon didn't receive wisdom as a birthright.  He asked and You gave.  May Your generosity be granted to Your people's prayers.

Contemplatio:

Lord, grant us the gift of wisdom.