Sophia, Spirit of Wisdom

My Grandma went by the name "Sophie" her entire life. So, when I learned that her full name was Sophia, I was taken back. “Grandma, why did you choose to go by Sophie all your life when you have the loveliest name, Sophia?” I asked her. Quickly she barked back, “I never liked it! I was only called Sophia when I was in trouble.”

Sophia is an expression of the feminine aspects of God, and ever since I learned the biblical figure Sophia, or Wisdom, was more than a metaphor, I wanted to name a future daughter this name. I know we often think of wisdom as simply a book in the Bible or a Gift of the Holy Spirit we call upon for an exam, but she is so much more.

Chapter 7 of the Book of Wisdom gives us twenty-one attributes to help ponder her divine splendor:

Intelligent

Holy

Unique

Manifold

Subtle

Agile

Clear

Unstained

Certain

Not baneful

Loving the good

Keen

Unhampered

Beneficent

Kindly

Firm

Secure

Tranquil

All-powerful

All-seeing,

And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure, and very subtle (Wisdom 7:22-23).

Women and men alike count on wisdom to influence their thoughts, words, values, beliefs, and actions to embody some, if not all, these attributes. When I pray the Examen at the end of the day, I do so attempting to be “the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness” (Wisdom 7:23) like Sophia.

I invite you to take some time to reflect on Wisdom 7:25. Ponder the gorgeous appearance of Sophia, “For she is a breath of the might of God and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore, nothing defiled can enter into her.”

I pray my life might radiate the glory of the Almighty, allowing nothing to defile me. I know my grandmother’s life did, and for that, I have little hesitancy to ask for her intercession from Heaven.

Granny Sophia, pray for me. Spirit of Wisdom, sweet Sophia, intoxicate my entire being. Amen.

Radiate the glory of the Almighty. // @socaltriciatClick to tweet

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