Catholic Commentary on Wisdom 11

"You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord, you who love the living." (Wisdom 11:26)

God's Mercy in the Exodus

Wisdom traces the Exodus: wisdom prospered the works of the Israelites through the hand of the holy prophet Moses. They journeyed through an uninhabited wilderness and pitched their tents in impassable places. They resisted their enemies and fought off their foes. When they thirsted, they called upon you, and water was given them out of flinty rock. By the very things by which their enemies were punished, they themselves received benefit in their need. Instead of the source of an ever-flowing river troubled with impure blood, as a rebuke to the decree for the slaying of the infants, you gave them abundant water. Then the great prayer: you spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord, you who love the living. For your immortal spirit is in all things. Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass, and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin, so that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you, O Lord.

The Catechism identifies the phrase you who love the living as one of the most beautiful names for God in Scripture - the God whose love is directed toward the living and whose correction is therefore always redemptive (CCC 385).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, you who love the living. God's correction is the correction of one who loves what he corrects. He does not punish to destroy but to restore; he corrects little by little so that those who stray may be freed and trust him. Receive every correction as love from the one who loves the living - which means you.

Prayer

Lord God, you love the living and spare all things. Correct us little by little so that we may be freed from wickedness and put our trust in you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

11
She prospered their works in the hands of the holy prophet. They went through wildernesses that were not inhabited, and in desert places they pitched their tents. They stood against their enemies, and revenged themselves of their adversaries. They were thirsty, and they called upon thee, and water was given them out of the high rock, and a refreshment of their thirst out of the hard stone. For by what things their enemies were punished, when their drink failed them, while the children of Israel abounded therewith and rejoiced: By the same things they in their need were benefited. For instead of a fountain of an ever running river, thou gavest human blood to the unjust. And whilst they were diminished for a manifest reproof of their murdering the infants, thou gavest to thine abundant water unlooked for: Shewing by the thirst that was then, how thou didst exalt thine, and didst kill their adversaries. 10 For when they were tried, and chastised with mercy, they knew how the wicked were judged with wrath and tormented. 11 For thou didst admonish and try them as a father: but the others, as a severe king, thou didst examine and condemn. 12 For whether absent or present, they were tormented alike. 13 For a double affliction came upon them, and a groaning for the remembrance of things past. 14 For when they heard that by their punishments the others were benefited, they remembered the Lord, wondering at the end of what was come to pass. 15 For whom they scorned before, when he was thrown out at the time of his being wickedly exposed to perish, him they admired in the end, when they saw the event: their thirsting being unlike to that of the just. 16 But for the foolish devices of their iniquity, because some being deceived worshipped dumb serpents and worthless beasts, thou didst send upon them a multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance. 17 That they might know that by what things a man sinneth, by the same also he is tormented. 18 For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without form, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions, 19 Or unknown beasts of a new kind, full of rage: either breathing out a fiery vapour, or sending forth a stinking smoke, or shooting horrible sparks out of their eyes: 20 Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but also the very sight might kill them through fear. 21 Yea and without these, they might have been slain with one blast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight. 22 For great power always belonged to thee alone: and who shall resist the strength of thy arm? 23 For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon the earth: 24 But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things, and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance. 25 For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any thing hating it. 26 And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be preserved, if not called by thee. 27 But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest souls.