Yesterday, as part of our access to the prayer service that started the Synod on Thursday, we were present for a brief reflection from the Book of Wisdom from Bishop Lucio Muandalo of Mozambique. The Vatican presented the text in Italian as Bishop Muandalo read it, but not in English. Using some software and my own (poor) Italian, I've come up with a (very) rough translation below. As you can easily see, this passage from Wisdom has particular meaning for Bishop Muandalo in this synod, and as one would imagine, his emphasis resonated among the participants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da7tk32EkCo
"For in everything, O Lord, you have exalted and glorified your people, and you have not neglected to help them at all times and in all places." (Wisdom 19:22)
The Book of Wisdom, from which the passage which we have just heard, was probably written in Alexandria in Egypt, and its recipients were mainly the members of the Jewish diaspora which, when in contact with Hellenism, ran the risk of adopting its idolatry, completely abandoning the faith in the God of the Covenant with the Fathers.
In it, we see the presentation of two characteristic figures of the Wisdom writings: the right (or wise) image of the Israelite believer, faithful to the traditions of the fathers, and the wicked (or foolish) image of pagans and of those who dedicate themselves idolatry (cc. 13-15). The sacred author repeats that many of those Jews in the second century BC had settled in Alexandria, a reflection on the action of God and man, all inspired by the biblical tradition and aimed to strengthen their faith and their hope.
In fact, the contact with the Hellenistic world, with which the author enters into dialogue and sometimes even controversy, helped to present biblical wisdom as a divine gift, which leads to salvation who accept it (as Israel did) but demonstrates the sins of those who reject it (as did the Egyptians and the pagans in general).
In this sense, the passage we have just heard embodies a true profession of faith of the sacred author, anchored in the biblical Exodus, and is an invitation to us to let ourselves be guided by biblical wisdom in an increasingly globalized world, with which we are called to set up a dialogue of faith -- and in which there is a risk, however, of losing trust in God and adopting a completely pagan lifestyle.
May the good God enlighten us with His Spirit of wisdom in the work of this day and make us understand that He never forgets His people and is always near with the gift of His salvation in Jesus Christ His Son.
There is always a risk when engaging the world that the world will change us, wear us down, and dilute or deplete our faith. That is why we pray for strength and fidelity, which is exactly what the Synod did during this prayer service.
