Some time ago a group of hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional beings decided to finally answer the great question of Life, The Universe and Everything. To this end they built an incredibly powerful computer, ‘Deep Thought’. After the great computer program had run (a very quick seven and a half million years) the answer was announced. The Ultimate answer to Life, the Universe and Everything is… 42.

The problem with this answer, of course, is that while it may be true, it is not very helpful. It illustrates perfectly the difference between knowledge and wisdom – knowing how many angels can fit on the head of a pin will help none of us lead better lives.

Have you been had for an April Fool yet this morning? If not, the Revd Bosco Peters has an idea – or maybe it is not an April Fool after all?

The Bible, somewhat foolishly, cannot decide whether it wants its followers to aim at being wise or foolish in the service of Christ. According to Oremus, there are 358 references to wisdom in the bible, including many favourites such as ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ and it is generally held to be A Good Thing. Indeed:

… those who despise wisdom and instruction are miserable.
Their hope is vain, their labours are unprofitable,
and their works are useless. Wisdom of Solomon 3.11:

There are 234 references to words containing ‘fool’, most of which are derogatory:

My wounds grow foul and fester
because of my foolishness; Psalm 38.5

But St Paul tells us over and over again that being a fool for Christ is preferable to wisdom if that means sophistry or craftiness. (Otherwise heaven would only be open to university professors and nuclear physicists!)

“We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.” (1 Corinthians 4.10).

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” (1 Corinthians 3:19)

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21)

The Beatles were perhaps somewhere near this wisdom about foolishness in ‘The Fool On The Hill’:

But the editor of Ship of Fools, Simon Jenkins, said it best in 1977 in his teaser of a poem:

what ship plays with icebergs
and plays soft music as it sinks into the ocean?
what ship on the throw of a dice
feeds a prophet to his fishy destination?
what ship breaks its spine on the rocks
and turns the waves black with lubrication?
a ship of fools
but there are fools and
those who seem to be

what ship is built on a dry highland
is launched by a downpour
and flies on watery wings to the peak of a mountain?
what ship has a crew
of taxmen thieves and fishermen
who decide in the howling storm
to make a small sleeping carpenter
their captain?

yes
a ship of fools
but there are fools and
those who only appear to be

 

And finally, if you are looking for a simple answer to the meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything, I offer you a simple choice between ‘42’ or Jesus Christ the apple tree:

The tree of life my soul hath seen:
laden with fruit, and always green.
The trees of nature fruitless be
compared with Christ the apple tree.
His beauty doth all things excel:
by faith I know, but ne’er can tell
The glory which I now can see
in Jesus Christ the apple tree.
For happiness I long have sought,
and pleasure dearly I have bought.
I missed of all: but now I see
‘Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

The illustration is the Tree of Life from Kreuzigungsszene mit “Ecclesia” und MAria, Johannes und “Synagoge”, in den Eckmedaillons die Tugenden: Gehorsam, Geduld, Demut, Liebe; Miniatur aus dem Scherenberg-Psalter, Pergamenthandscrift, 158 Blätter, 18,5 x 13 cm; Straßburg, c. 1260 Badische Landesbibliothek, Cod. St. Peter perg. 139, Blatt 8r via Wikimedia