NOTES for Sir 5:1-8
1 Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for my life. |
2 Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of thy heart: |
3 And say not, Who shall controul me for my works? for the Lord will surely revenge thy pride. |
4 Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go. |
5 Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin: |
6 And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners. |
7 Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance. |
8 Set not thine heart upon goods unjustly gotten, for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity. |
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Jesus, son of Sirach, does not waste time on simple and elementary things. Even if something appears simple, an unobvious depth is hidden there rather than a trick. The first thesis is simple: "Do not say, 'Who has authority over my affairs?' for the Lord will surely punish your arrogance." The second is not obvious to everyone: "Do not say, 'I sinned, and what happened to me?' for the Lord is patient." Sometimes people really think that if God does not intervene in every event every three seconds, then He sees nothing at all and is involved in nothing. The third is the hardest: "When thinking of atonement, do not be fearless, adding sin to sins, and do not say, 'His mercy is great; He will forgive my many sins.'" After all, what could be more beautiful than hope in God's mercy? Saint Teresa, absolute trust in God... But the wise Jesus, son of Sirach, says: trust is beautiful if we are not hiding ordinary arrogance and permissiveness under the mask of trust. There is a difference between mercy and indulgence. The Lord forgives, but His mercy must not be abused.
Readings for 27 February 2025
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