Today's first reading from Sirach opens:
My son, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear,
prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity.
Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not; thus will you be wise in all your ways.
Isn't there an easier way? And of course the answer is no.
Then there are those of us who fall back to the minimalist school. Do I really need to be wise to get into heaven? Can't I just be good- just good enough?
Again the answer is no.
God wants us to go for it with all our might. Wandering through life trying just to dodge hell is not enough. He has filled us with his Spirit, and made his wisdom available to us so that we can do great things. Everyone one of us in our own way are called to greatness and yes we are called to be wise.
So to borrow from, of all people, Lady Macbeth,"screw your courage to the sticking place, and we will not fail." For us Christians the sticking place is Jesus Christ.
