I've recently read a little story that has stuck in my mind. It's about a butterfly. A butterfly has two wings. In order to fly, it needs both wings. Without both, it will go no where.
The author of this story compares these two wings of a butterfly with the two wings that we need in our relationships with one another in order that these relationships will grow and flourish. And these two wings that we need in our relationships are "wisdom" and "love".
"Love" without "wisdom" -that is without commitment, fidelity, responsibility - is not love at all.
There are many examples of this type of love in our culture which has brought great suffering to relationships.
"Wisdom" without "love" - that is without caring, compassion, understanding - is not wisdom at all.
We need both for either to work. For "wisdom" to be "wisdom" and "love" to be "love", they must work together like the two wings of a butterfly.
In the Gospel Of Luke, we have Jesus singling out the religious teachers and lawyers with some rather strong words of rebuke. Jesus was angry with the religious leaders because they failed to listen to God's ways, and were misleading the people they were suppose to be guiding.
What is happening here? How can we learn from it?
The religious leaders were conveying what they considered to be great spiritual wisdom, but correspondingly, missed the mark. One example Jesus points out was in tithing, the offering of one's labor, their first fruits, as an expression of thanksgiving and honor for God's loving care. The Scribes however went to extreme lengths to tithe on insignificant things, such as tiny plants, with great mathematical accuracy. They were very attentive to minute matters of little importance, but they neglected to care for the needy and the weak. In becoming self-justified by following their minute rules and laws, they became filled with pride and contempt for those who were unable or unwilling to do so.
The exercise of their practice of wisdom and scriptural knowledge was not done with caring, compassion, concern or understanding of others, and as a result, they were leading others to a Pharisaism rather than to the love of God and neighbor.
The essence of God's commands is love - love of God, love of neighbor, and everything that flows from love. St. Paul went at great length when speaking to the Galatians to speak about the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. But in order for these fruits to be manifested in our relationships and community, our love must be, as St. Paul says, directed by the Spirit. This means directed by Wisdom. We cannot belong to Christ unless we begin the process of crucifying all self-indulgent passions and desires.
It's a sensitive balance, one that is difficult to maintain, and we often fall off, but with the presence of God's Spirit, we can be guided towards the wholeness and fullness that comes from using both wisdom and love together.
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