The epistle to the Ephesians reminds us of the importance of recognizing what is pleasing to God, that is, what is according to wisdom: "Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord", Ephesians 5:10.
When we talk about what pleases God is everything that is good and perfect or in other words, everything that participates in his nature: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17.
This teaching of Paul is of utmost importance since both Jesus and the members of the early church must face heresies that threaten unity. God is the wisdom itself, because God is wise he loves good. Wisdom is before love because to love something you have to know it first.
Knowing how to differentiate teaching from error (heresies and sophisms), from true wisdom is the basis of spiritual growth: "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming." Ephesians 4:14.
Thomas Aquinas defines the word of God as wisdom engendered by the spiritual gift of prophecy: listen (perceive with attention), meditate with intuition and inspiration, decide with creativity.
Discernment and prophecy are spiritual gifts that go together: "But eagerly desire the greater gifts." 1 Corinthians 12:31.
We all discern, but in the case of the letter to the Ephesians, it is a particular way of discerning, more as a spiritual gift than as an innate ability: exercise discernment with constancy, examine the scriptures and meditate on the word of God, to find out where the correct teaching is, and so by exclusion know where the error is.
We live in a world oppressed and dominated by heresies, lies and ignorance, thence the ability to discern is so fundamental
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