Last time I read through Proverbs, I was particularly struck by the description of wisdom in chapter 9. It’s one of the better-known parts of the book, but I had never stopped to ponder how profound it is that Wisdom calls her hearers to a feast. Too often, I think of wisdom in purely cerebral terms. If I were to personify it, I might have been more likely to think of a professor giving a lecture than a hostess preparing a feast. But, once again, the physical, embodied focus of Scripture comes as a beautiful surprise.
I find this comforting when I think about how much of my own time goes into planning and preparing meals. Sometimes I wish I had more time for reading and study; that seems like the path to wisdom. Maybe someday my vocations will include the vocation of student again. For now, though, my vocation involves less study of wisdom and more doing what Lady Wisdom does in this section of Proverbs: preparing meals. This is a glorious calling.
The best part of Wisdom’s feast is its New Testament fulfillment. Wisdom slaughtered beasts, mixed wine, and set her table (Prov. 9:2). Then she sent her young women to call the guests, saying, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed” (vv. 3, 5). Similarly, we are called to the Lord’s table. Christ is the both the Host of the meal and the One slaughtered for us. “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). His body is the bread and His blood the wine. In the person of Christ, wisdom has taken on flesh (1 Cor. 1:30). His invitation is a beautiful culmination of Wisdom’s call: “Take, eat; this is my body… Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:26-28).
Wisdom called her hearers with an offer of life, urging us to “leave [our] simple ways, and live” (Prov. 9:6). Similarly, Christ calls us to a lifegiving feast. “For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation” (Luther’s Small Catechism). And so, as I go about my ordinary work of preparing meals, I do so as one nurtured by the saving meal of Christ’s body and blood. The Wisdom of God has called me to His feast, and He gives beauty and honor to my most mundane tasks.
Coram Mundo 