NOTES for Wis 12:16

Written approximately in the 3rd century before Christ, these words ring as an original output of the dramatic history of the Israeli people. The ways of God were revealed in this history, and through all the despair and failures appeared this truth: God has mercy. In every moment of a history, the one who experiences another turn of events, God's mercy can be utterly unobvious. Only after time has past that people are capable of seeing it. So the history of people becomes a fountain of God's Revelation of Himself.

The tragic of history didn’t disappear after the time of composition of the book "Wisdom". That is why the Revelation written by his author, is so important for us. Indeed, we can base on it, it gives us the reason for hope. It is not very simple, to see in all the sufferings of the world God, disposed to grace all. Entire generations abjure faith, not being able to do that. And all the same the word is said, and we have the possibility of hearing it.

But this Revelation, as any God's Revelation, has again a practical aspect. Created at the image of God, we are called to be like Him, particularly in this.

“For Thy power is the beginning of righteousness, and because Thou art the Lord of all, it maketh Thee to be gracious unto all,” says the Sage. This is God's logic, not human logic: power as the beginning of righteousness. For us, power means the right, if not an excuse, to do whatever we please! But His power is the beginning of righteousness because, by its very nature, it can be used only for good. His dominion over the universe is not terror but care. And we, His creation, are not strangers to Him. That is precisely why He spares everyone: each person is dear and precious in His sight.