Kahu's Manao

Keawala‘i Congregational Church
United Church of Christ (USA)

Trinity Sunday
Sunday, May 30, 2010

The Rev. Kealahou C. Alika

“Wisdom Calls”
Proverbs 8:1-11 & Proverbs 8:22-31

The late Mary Kawena Pukui was a noted Hawaiian linguist and scholar. Among her many publications is the book ‘Ōlelo No‘eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings. It is considered the “finest compendium of traditional Hawaiian insight and lore handed down through generations of oral tradition.” (Native Books, Nā Mea Hawai‘i, www.nativebookshawaii.com, 2003-2004)

It is a treasure of more than 3,000 proverbs and poetical sayings in both Hawaiian and English. It is said that the book provides a glimpse into “the knowledge, compassion, foibles, humor, morality and beliefs of the Hawaiian people.” (Op. cit.)

What we know as The Book of Proverbs is a book of the Hebrew Scriptures. The authors of the book are in dispute. Biblical scholars point to four possibilities but the most prominent is Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel.

Other names appear but Solomon is often mentioned as someone who has extensive wisdom in the Bible (1 Kings 5:12-14). Among other things it is said that 3,000 proverbs and 1,000 songs come from Solomon.

“The book intends to teach (the) youth how to cope with life through observation . . . self-control and fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:1-9). The perspective is optimistic; wisdom, equated with righteousness brings life; folly, equated with wickedness leads to destruction.” (Harper’s Bible Dictionary, Achtemeier, Harper & Row, Publishers, San Francisco, 1985, page 832)

Some may be inclined to argue that there is a distinct difference between Pukui’s ‘Ölelo No‘eau and Solomon’s Book of Proverbs. After all Solomon’s work is about the wisdom of God while Pukui’s work is about the wisdom of a particular people.

But if it is true that Wisdom calls out “to all that live” (Proverbs 8:4) from places where they live – “on the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads, beside the gates of the town” (Proverbs 8:2-3) then we ought not be so quick to dismiss wisdom of our Hawaiian ancestors. After all as Shirley C. Guthrie in her book, Christian Doctrine, points out: “If the Christian faith claims to speak the truth, it must have correspondence with the truth we can learn from the natural sciences, philosophy, modern psychology and the attempts of artists to grasp the mystery of life . . . God is not the prisoner of the Christian church. We must expect (God) to be present and at work also outside the sphere of those who know about and depend on Christ and the Bible.” (Christian Doctrine, Shirley C. Guthrie, CLC Press, Richmond, 1968, page 68-69)

As a writer and a poet, Pukui was such an artist. She would be the first to agree that Wisdom’s fingerprints are all over God’s creation.

As we enter this season of Pentecost, Wisdom is personified as a seeker, wanting to understand God’s secrets, and as an architect and artist. Wisdom was present in the first act of creation and bears witness to the goodness of creation.

Today is Trinity Sunday and as such our reading from The Book of Proverbs invites us to explore the three aspects of God’s presence in the world as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Wisdom was present in the first act of creation and so bears witness as the Spirit of God to the goodness of creation. Wisdom was also present at the cross when a new creation was brought into being through the death and resurrection of Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)

Hanu, my 18-month-old poi dog, and I went for a walk yesterday around Ke‘öpüolani Park in Kahului an hour before sunset. I usually vary our daily walks by parking in different places and starting off from different locations. But no matter where we begin or end, there is always that moment when we stop and sit down on the slopes of the soccer field.

Although I have him on a leash he is still able to roll around on the ground and slide down the grassy slope. When he’s managed to satisfy himself he’ll sit along side of me and gaze off into the distance.

Looking to the right we see the ocean off in the distance and looking to the left we have a clear view of ‘Ïao Valley. At one point I laid flat on the ground and looked up. I pulled him beside me and tried to get him to look up.

“Hey Hanu,” I said. “Look at how beautiful the clouds are.”

He replied, “Yep! I know that’s exactly what the writer of The Book of Psalms thought when he wrote: ‘The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.’” (Psalm 19:1) Or at least that is what I imagine him saying.

Today we celebrate Wisdom as both a creation of God and an expression that has existed since the beginning of all that is. Jeff Pachal, the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Wooster, Ohio wrote the following version of our reading this morning:

“I was out shopping yesterday, and whom did I run into? Wisdom.

Yeah, there she was. She called me over and we began talking, Wisdom and I.

Then, I went down to the courthouse, and there she was again, making a plea for justice in some dingy courtroom where somebody had been unjustly accused.

After that, I dropped by the school and she had gotten there before me, calling for students and teachers alike always to seek truth. Then I went for a walk in the woods, moving along the trail in quiet meditation.

Wisdom snuck up on me and said, ‘Now that we are alone, I have something I want to share with you, a present I want you to enjoy. You know I’ve been around a long time, really before the beginning of time.

I have been whirling and dancing with God all along. I am God’s delight, laughing and playing. I want you to know the lightness of spirit and gladness that come when you welcome me. Will you set aside those thoughts, words, and deeds that make life heavy and sad for you and others?

Will you come and laugh and play with me? Will you come and dance with me? Will you?’”

So it is that we encounter once more the God who creates and delights in us, loves us, frees us, calls us and equips us to be his faithful servants in the service of others. On this Trinity Sunday we celebrate the faith and hope that God’s love pours into our lives through Christ and the call of the Spirit to follow in his way.

Such is the Wisdom of God. Amen.

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