A priest was preaching one Sunday on the theme of “Love your enemies.” After a long sermon, he asked how many parishioners were willing to forgive their enemies. About half held up their hands. Not satisfied he preached for another 20 minutes and repeated his question. This time he received a response of about 80%. Still unsatisfied, he went on for another 15 minutes and repeated his question. With all thoughts now on Sunday dinner, everyone raised their hand except one elderly lady in the front row. “Mrs. Jones, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?” the priest asked. “I don't have any,” she said. Surprised, the priest said, “Ma’am, that is very unusual. How old are you?” “Ninety-two,” she responded. “Mrs. Jones, please tell me, how can you have lived to be 92 years old, and not have an enemy in the world.” The sweet little lady, smiled, and said simply. “Oh, Father, I’ve had plenty of enemies. It’s just that, at 92, I’ve outlived them all!”
The readings for the last couple of weeks have been from Sirach. According to the Introduction in the New American Bible:
The Book of Sirach derives its name from the author, Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach (Sirach 50:27). Its earliest title seems to have been "Wisdom of the Son of Sirach." The designation "Liber Ecclesiasticus," meaning "Church Book," appended to some Greek and Latin manuscripts was due to the extensive use which the church made of this book in presenting moral teaching to catechumens and to the faithful.
The author, a sage who lived in Jerusalem, was thoroughly imbued with love for the law, the priesthood, the temple, and divine worship. As a wise and experienced observer of life he addressed himself to his contemporaries with the motive of helping them to maintain religious faith and integrity through study of the holy books, and through tradition.
The book contains numerous maxims formulated with care, grouped by affinity, and dealing with a variety of subjects such as the individual, the family, and the community in their relations with one another and with God. It treats of friendship, education, poverty and wealth, the law, religious worship, and many other matters which reflect the religious and social customs of the time.
Written in Hebrew between 200 and 175 B.C., the text was translated into Greek sometime after 132 B.C. by the author's grandson, who also wrote a Foreword which contains information about the book, the author, and the translator himself. Until the close of the nineteenth century Sirach was known only in translations, of which this Greek rendering was the most important. From it the Latin version was made. Between 1896 and 1900, again in 1931, and several times since 1956, manuscripts were discovered containing in all about two thirds of the Hebrew text, which agrees substantially with the Greek. One such text, from Masada, is pre-Christian in date.
Though not included in the Hebrew Bible after the first century A.D., nor accepted by Protestants, the Book of Sirach has always been recognized by the Catholic Church as divinely inspired and canonical. The Foreword, though not inspired, is placed in the Bible because of its antiquity and importance.
The contents of Sirach are of a discursive nature, not easily divided into separate parts. Sir 1-43 deal largely with moral instruction; Sirach 44:1-50:24 contain a eulogy of the heroes of Israel and some of the patriarchs. There are two appendices in which the author expresses his gratitude to God, and appeals to the unlearned to acquire true wisdom.
The Church uses the Book of Sirach extensively in her liturgy.
As I was reading the passage tonight preparing for Mass tomorrow, it reminded me that the more the world changes, the more it stays the same. We have all had "friends" who have abandoned us when we needed them the most, haven't we? Just as I'm sure we've all had "true friends" who sacrificed their own needs for us. The author of Sirach warns us how to discern true friendship and what it boils down to is a healthy fear for God and His commandments. I know it's semantics, but I prefer the word "respect" to "fear". To love God out of fear is not wrong, per se--after all, He is the Creator--but if we love Him out of RESPECT for Who He IS, then it's a love that is freely given without any reservations or ulterior motive.
Getting back to the "types" of friends described in Sirach, which am I? Am I just an acquaintance and not a "confidant"? Do I go the extra mile to help my friends? What about my enemies? Am I willing to go that extra mile with them as well? Am I even willing to go the first mile? Do I make friendships simply for what I can get out of the relationship, or do I make them for what I am willing to give to make the relationship work? I'm thinking of my friendship with Jesus Christ. In my prayers, it seems to me that all I ever do is ask for this or ask for that. And when my prayer is answered, do I stop asking and just give thanks? I would honestly have to say no. My goal (it should be the goal of us all) is to become the type of friend I have in Jesus Christ--one who puts up with my constant pestering and still loves me unconditionally. I have a lot to learn in the friendship department.
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