Sermon Fragment — Wisdom Will Strengthen the Wise (Sapient)

Friar Thomas Aquinas (The fragment here is the prothema (prologue) to the sermon; it is possibly authentic, but there remains some doubt on the question of its authenticity.)

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Wisdom will strengthen the wise.

That word is written in Ecclesiastes. Through it, it is to be understood that the wise preacher, just as much as the wise hearer, is in need of wisdom. For both the preacher and the hearer need to be refreshed by the sustenance that is fitting to each.

But the sustenance of the soul itself is the instruction of Sacred Scripture. Therefore, the intellect of the preacher must be strengthened so that he may impress strongly the instruction of this teaching upon the hearts of those who hear him.

Likewise, the intellect of those who hear must be strengthened so that they may hear and keep fast the teaching in their memory. Indeed, divine wisdom is not established in the heart of man unless it is impressed strongly and well kept.

I myself, however, am incapable of impressing on you that wisdom as it ought to be, but the blessed James says, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it of the Lord, who gives to all men abundantly and does not upbraid (Jas 1:5).

Hence, we ought to call upon the Lord and ask him that he may give to me his own wisdom, so that I can then express it and impress it in you and so that you can keep it. May it so come to pass, for his glory and honor and for the salvation of our souls.