January 3
The first of the classic “cardinal virtues” of the faith, wisdom is what the Old Testament writers describe as the basis for understanding God. All good change begins with choices made out of wisdom, which leads to making better choices for your life. How do we learn to be wise? Wisdom comes from the presence of the Lord. |
January 10With an internal compass to understand wisdom, we discover courage to speak up for what is right. However, the source of bravery isn't our own strength but God: our protector, our shield, our stronghold. We become cowardly when we depend on ourselves for courage: we lose faith and falter. We become rash and fool ourselves into thinking we don't need God’s grace.
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January 17With wisdom, we find courage, and with courage we learn justice, which is what happens when we take a stand for the least and the lost among us. To do this, we need to recognize what needs to be done and the unique ways we can act. Though she could have turned a blind eye, Pharaoh’s daughter rescued Moses because she had both the courage and the position to act.
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January 24Fasting is a crucial part of our faith journey when we choose not to satisfy our cravings, to connect with Christ in his suffering, and to realize our identities are not centered in worldly things. However, God gives us all the gifts of creation; they are a “right, good, and joyful thing.” How do we find a balance between these two seemingly opposite commands?
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