Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper23: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 16 and 17; Evening, Psalm 22;
Ecclesiasticus 1:1to10 and18to 27; Acts 28:1to16; Luke 9:28to 36
“For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline, fidelity and humility are his delight.” (Ecclesiasticus 1:27)
This book from the Apocrypha is the Ecclesiasticus, or Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach; not to be confused with Jesus, Son of God. This is a Wisdom writing. It did not make the canon, which are the traditionally accepted books of the Bible, but is none the less an important teaching tool for the Church. In this book, there is a close association between wisdom and seeking the will of God.
Perhaps a better word for the word “fear” in this sense is the word respect or belief in the Lord. For it is in believing in God and trusting in God that we are enlightened. God reveals to those who believe in God. Many people refuse to believe because they cannot prove God exists. But, on the other hand, they cannot prove that God does not exist. Art is proof of the Artist. Creation is proof of the Creator. Nothing is happenstance.
For many of us today, frustrations abound. But “Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment, and then cheerfulness comes back to them” (Ecclesiasticus 1:23). Patience is key here. We have to prayerfully wait things out. We have to ponder all things as a people of prayer. The writer of Ecclesiasticus says of such a people, “They hold back their words until the right moment; then the lips of many tell of their good sense (Ecclesiasticus 1:24). I like to use the term DUST or “Don’t Unnecessarily Share Thoughts.” Too quickly sharing of thoughts, even if not meant, or fully developed yet by the speaker, have gotten people fired from their jobs. All they had to do was keep it to themselves for just a little bit longer. Again, those who are patient stay calm until the right moment.
In our practice of discipline, fidelity and humility we should try to DUST ourselves. Holding back our hostile thoughts will give us time to ponder about what truly bothers us. It will lead us to better outcomes and we will have fewer regrets. We need to calm ourselves and seek the Creator.
Please remember to keep Ukraine in your prayers, your prayers are making a real difference.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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