GOD'S WISDOM

18 He searches out the abyss, and the hearts of men,
and considers their crafty devices.
For the Most High knows all that may be known,
and he looks into the signs of the age.
19 He declares what has been and what is to be,
and he reveals the tracks of hidden things.
20 No thought escapes him,
and not one word is hidden from him.
21 He has ordained the splendors of his wisdom,
and he is from everlasting and to everlasting.
Nothing can be added or taken away,
and he needs no one to be his counselor.

(Ecclesiasticus/Sirach 42:18-21)

How does one progress in hope?

1. Reinforce the foundations, the motives the reasons. Meditate on God's power, his goodness and glorious promises.
2. Effort: be on guard against presumption or despair.
3. Voluntary detachment, daily renunciation, self-denial.
4. Filial confidence in God: he didn't even spare his own Son (Romans 8:32-34)
5. Implore the gift of final perseverance, with the help of the our Blessed Mother.

(Cf Tanquerey, The Spiritual Life, pp 559-567)

How does hope make us holy?

1. On one hand, it draws us to God and on the other, detaches us from pride, power & wealth, and pleasure.
2. It makes our prayer efficacious (cf Mark 2:1-12--the paralytic lowered from the roof; Matthew 9:29--the blind man of Jericho; Matthew 15:28--the Cananean woman).
3. We honour God when we confide in his wisdom, goodness, power, and faithfulness.
4. It is a principle of fruitful activitiy:

• It begets holy desires.
• It increases our energies.
• It infuses courage and endurance.

(Cf Tanquerey, The Spiritual Life, pp 559-567)

20 ...Sed omnia in mensura et numero et pondere disposuisti.
21 Multum enim valere tibi soli subest semper,
et virtuti brachii tui quis resistet?
22 Quoniam tamquam momentum staterae,
sic est ante te totus orbis terrarum,
et tamquam gutta roris antelucani, quae descendit in terram.
23 Sed misereris omnium, quia omnia potes;
et dissimulas peccata hominum propter paenitentiam.
24 Diligis enim omnia, quae sunt,
et nihil odisti eorum, quae fecisti;
nec enim, si odisses, aliquid constituisses.
25 Quomodo autem posset aliquid permanere, nisi tu voluisses?
Aut, quod a te vocatum non esset, conservaretur?
26 Parcis autem omnibus, quoniam tua sunt,
Domine, qui amas animas.

2 Ideoque eos, qui exerrant, paulatim corripis
et, de quibus peccant, admones et corrigis,
ut, relicta malitia, credant in te, Domine.

20 ...But thou hast arranged all things by measure and number and weight.
21 For it is always in thy power to show great strength,
and who can withstand the might of thy arm?
22 Because the whole world
before thee is like a speck that tips the scales,
and like a drop of morning dew that falls upon the ground.
23 But thou art merciful to all, for thou canst do all things,
and thou dost overlook men's sins, that they may repent.
24 For thou lovest all things that exist,
and hast loathing for none of the things which thou hast made,
for thou wouldst not have made anything if thou hadst hated it.
25 How would anything have endured if thou hadst not willed it?
Or how would anything not called forth by thee have been preserved?
26 Thou sparest all things, for they are thine,
O Lord who lovest the living.

2 Therefore thou dost correct little by little those who trespass,
and dost remind and warn them of the things wherein they sin,
that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in thee, O Lord.

(Wisdom 11:20-26; 12:3)

33 O altitudo divitiarum et sapientiae et scientiae Dei!
Quam incomprehensibilia sunt iudicia eius,
et investigabiles viae eius!
34 Quis enim cognovit sensum Domini?
Aut quis consiliarius eius fuit?
35 Aut quis prior dedit illi,
et retribuetur ei?
36 Quoniam ex ipso et per ipsum et in ipsum omnia.
Ipsi gloria in saecula. Amen.

How rich are the depths of God
– how deep his wisdom and knowledge –
and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods!
Who could ever know the mind of the Lord?
Who could ever be his counsellor?
Who could ever give him anything or lend him anything?
All that exists comes from him;
all is by him and for him.
To him be glory for ever! Amen.

(Romans 11:33-36)

2 Bonum est confiteri Domino
et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime,
3 annuntiare mane misericordiam tuam
et veritatem tuam per noctem
4 in decachordo et psalterio,
cum cantico in cithara.
5 Quia delectasti me, Domine, in factura tua,
et in operibus manuum tuarum exsultabo.
6 Quam magnificata sunt opera tua, Domine:
nimis profundae factae sunt cogitationes tuae.
7 Vir insipiens non cognoscet,
et stultus non intelleget haec.

It is good to praise the Lord,
and to sing psalms to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your mercy in the morning
and your faithfulness by night;
on the ten-stringed lyre and the harp,
with songs upon the lyre.

For you give me joy, Lord, in your creation:
I rejoice in the work of your hands.
How great are your works, O Lord,
how immeasurably deep your thoughts.
The fool does not hear,
the slow-witted do not understand.

(Psalm 92:2-7)