Abbot Michael Brunner welcomed the School back for a new academic year on Monday, September 12, at a votive Mass of the Holy Spirit. The Mass concluded with a special blessing of the head of school, the faculty, and student leaders, followed by the general threefold blessing of all present. His homily draws our attention to Benedict’s admonition to begin all good works with prayer and calls us to consider the full and true meaning of Wisdom.

Our Lady with Infant Jesus (St. Benet’s Dormitory)

Welcome home to the 2022-23 school year’s first day of classes, the 97th year of classes at Portsmouth Abbey School, where the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the students are above average. And students are strong and look great too, and it is very good to have you back, and to have with us for the first time the class of 2026 and the others who have joined our family, some in every class. St. Benedict’s rule says, first of all, whatever good work you begin to do, begin by asking God to guide it to successful completion. So we are beginning this school year as we do each one, with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, to pray that the Divine Spirit guide us in all that we do, that our work and activity may be in accord with Gods will and that it may be successful. If that sounds serious, it is. We do serious work here, and if you ever doubt it, just ask the Seniors, who have recently completed Junior year, or wait three weeks and ask this year’s Juniors. We are serious, but not humorless, not joyful-less. God and the Holy Spirit like fun too, and surely we all do too. Our first reading this morning is from the book of Proverbs. It speaks of creation, a very serious work of God. And the speaker is one of God’s first creations, one who witnesses it all and understands God’s plan. That first creation and the speaker is Wisdom. Wisdom is a gift of the Holy Spirit, a gift which we all seek to realize in our lives and in our work and study. Wisdom is a serious thing surely.

When we think of King Solomon, we don’t think of a trickster or someone who has impressed all generations since with his amazing jokes. But the wisdom who speaks to us in today’s reading is lively, enthusiastic and almost intoxicatingly happy. Wisdom says, “I was beside him (God) then as his craftsman.” The translation of this text is a controversy, because the one Hebrew word “amun” can have two meanings – craftsman, meaning wisdom assisted God in creation, or it can also mean little child, which is interesting because Jesus told us all we must be like little children to enter His kingdom. And the verses that follow would fit very well with the meaning of child. “I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the sons of men.” If the meaning is craftsman, It teaches us that we can enjoy learning, take delight in being creative, expanding our knowledge and horizons of thought. Ultimately wisdom is speaking as both craftsman and child: Wisdom is something you can share and enjoy. Wisdom requires play as well as seriousness. Wisdom crafts the right balance. Wisdom delights in God and in us, the children of humankind, who are images of God. It is very mysterious, this balanced and playful wisdom we need.

Sedes Sapientiae (Seat of Wisdom)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus, our teacher of teachers, tells us that we need to take our time and be prepared, waiting for the Spirit to work. By nature, we are impatient; we want the formula for wisdom and we want it now. But it’s not about us – and no matter how smart any of us is, none of us knows the formula or knows it all or knows God’s mind. But we should know that with and in God, all things will be well: our time, our effort, our world, our failures, all things work for the good for those who love God. We need not be afraid of anything, no test, no grade, no teacher, for God is delighted to give us the kingdom. Wisdom knows this. Wisdom is the ticket in to the kingdom. Can we hope to grasp this? Jesus tells us and his disciples in the Gospel that he has more to tell us than we can bear now, but that will be guided to all truth. That, you know, is the motto and guiding principle of this school, truth, veritas. What could be more important to know? The alternative, untruth, is a lie. And the world around us is full of lies. Nothing is more dangerous, and necessary for us to avoid. When Jesus tells his disciples that everything the Father has is His, he is telling us that everything is ours too, insofar as we are patient and faithful, living and united in Him, Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, the life. Life flows from truth.

That is why we begin our school year with the celebration of the Eucharist, in the presence of God welcoming and receiving within ourselves and our school family, Jesus Christ, through whom, with whom and in whom, along with the Holy Spirit, the giver of Wisdom all glory and honor and delight are given to our loving Father for all time. Seek and you will find, ask and you will receive, truth and the wisdom of God. So, my prayer for you today is that this year be delightful for every one of you.

Abbot Michael blessing the faculty at Opening Mass