By Deeds, Part 1 of The Destructiveness of All or Nothing

Our reading this week is from the gospel of Matthew:

“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

‘We played the pipe for you,

and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge,

and you did not mourn.’

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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30)

There’s a lot in this week’s passage to unpack that could guide our justice work today. I love how our reading begins with John and Jesus being likened to pipers. John played a dirge; Jesus’ pipe called hearers to dance. Neither gets their desired response. John gets beheaded. Jesus gets crucified. But in the end, “Wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Two things resonate with me here. First is the feminine language for wisdom, in harmony with the Hebrew tradition. Second, she is proved right by the deeds to which she gives birth: wisdom produces deeds. It’s for us to discern from our own experience and the experiences of those not like ourselves whether what we think is wisdom has produced deeds that are life-giving or death dealing. It’s another way of saying, “by their fruits you will know them.” 

Wisdom.

Is proved right.

By her deeds.

What are the actions being produced by so-called wisdom?

We’ll explore these questions and more, next.

(Read Part 2)