To what shall I liken this generation? It is like youngsters who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
"We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance, we sang a dirge, but you didn't lament."
For John was a faster, and they said, "He is bad spirit possessed." The Human One came as an eater and drinker, and they said, "Look, he is a glutton and a drunk, a friend of betrayer-cheaters and riff-raff."
But Sofia is vindicated by her works.
*"Human One" refers to Jesus. The Gospels often refer to him as Son of Man, i.e., Son of Humanity or Human One. The aim may be to present Jesus as the archetypal human being; cf. the image of Gautama Buddha in Buddhism, the archetype of Enlightenment, and Lao Tzu in Taoism, that of Wisdom. The emphasis may be on Jesus as fully human, like all human beings.
As a sweet-smelling lotus Pleasing to the heart May grow in a heap of rubbish Discarded along the highway, So a disciple of the Fully Awakened One Shines with wisdom Amid the rubbish heap Of blind, common people.
*Gil Fronsdal, Trans. The Dhammapada: A Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations.
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The children's words may reflect a game youngsters played or a singsong taunt, writes Sarah Ruden (The Gospels). The quote implies the non-response of John the Baptist and Jesus' audiences. Rather than being receptive to the Word, the people excused themselves by criticizing both. No matter what John or Jesus did, as seen in the accusation of fasting and gluttony, the people would not give their message a chance. It conflicted with their preconceived teachings. Is this not true now as much as then?
Jesus points to Sofia. Jews had personified wisdom as Sofia, the Greek goddess of wisdom, in the Jewish Scriptures, including the Book of Proverbs. Interestingly, she warns the people in Proverbs 1 for refusing to listen to and heed her. She promises they will suffer for their refusal. She speaks of the natural consequence of the people's choice, unlike much of the Jewish scriptures that speak of the god punishing people who refused to obey. The Eastern idea of karma and the Western of natural law fit this passage well.
Jesus says you know a being who lives wisdom by the fruit of their life, or in the language of the Dhammapada, they shine with wisdom amid the many who cannot appreciate the wisdom-glow: they do not have "eyes" to see it. A person's vindicator is not how others speak of them but their actions. If one tells of love but shows little love, you know. If one speaks rarely, if ever, of love but loves, you know. The fruit is known by the tree, not by what others think or say of the tree. Jesus and John's works demonstrated their truthfulness and authenticity.
This verity can encourage us to relax, trusting who we are shows itself. We do not need to be anxious about proving or defending ourselves. We do not need to be sidetracked or upset by others' opinions of us. We can go about enjoying doing what we do, for what we do is what we are.
Hence, likewise, we can be inspired to aspire to sacred wisdom, for we want our lives to demonstrate her. Wise actions, internal and external, cultivate a life of wisdom.
The Sun does not have to try to prove itself to anyone. If someone denies the Sun, that does not affect the Sun. Anyone's opinions of it do not alter the Sun. The Sun Suns. The Sun's proof of itself is acting in accord with its nature. Enough testimony for the Sun is Sunlight and what that does for Earth and all the beings it lights upon.
So with you. Cultivate spiritual wisdom, and She will manifest for those to see who are prepared to see. Others will not see, for they are not prepared to see. You do not need to act to call attention to yourself. Wisdom calls attention to Herself. You can act so to cooperate with Her. You do this by living in accord with Her, cultivating Her qualities within yourself. Her self-luminosity is the witness of truth. You are graced to be a participant.
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*(C) Brian K. Wilcox, 2023. Permission is given to use photographs and writings with credit given to the copyright owner.
*Brian's book is An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love. The book is a collection of poems Brian wrote based on wisdom traditions, predominantly Christian, Buddhist, and Sufi, with extensive notes on the poetry's teachings and imagery.
