Lent with the Wisdom Literature (Day 18)
March 22, 2025
Sirach 32:14-24; 33:1-3; 34:14-20; 35:1-13 (Second Saturday of Lent)
One who seeks God will accept his discipline, and those who rise early to seek him will find favour.
One who seeks the law will be filled with it, but the hypocrite will stumble at it.
Those who fear the Lord will form true judgements, and they will kindle righteous deeds like a light.
The sinner will shun reproof, and will find a decision according to his liking.
A sensible person will not overlook a thoughtful suggestion; an insolent and proud person will not be deterred by fear.
Do nothing without deliberation, but when you have acted, do not regret it.
Do not go on a path full of hazards, and do not stumble at an obstacle twice.
Do not be overconfident on a smooth road, and give good heed to your paths.
Guard yourself in every act, for this is the keeping of the commandments.
Do not go on a path full of hazards, and do not stumble at an obstacle twice.
Do not be overconfident on a smooth road, and give good heed to your paths.
Guard yourself in every act, for this is the keeping of the commandments.
One who keeps the law preserves himself, and one who trusts the Lord will not suffer loss.
No evil will befall someone who fears the Lord, but in trials such a one will be rescued again and again.
The wise will not hate the law, but someone who is hypocritical about it is like a boat in a storm.
The sensible person will trust in the law; for such a one the law is as dependable as a divine oracle.
The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is in him who saves them.
Those who fear the Lord will not be timid, or play the coward, for he is their hope.
Happy is the soul that fears the Lord! To whom does he look? And who is his support?
The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him, a mighty shield and strong support,
a shelter from scorching wind and a shade from noonday sun, a guard against stumbling and a help against falling.
He lifts up the soul and makes the eyes sparkle; he gives health and life and blessing.
One who keeps the law makes many offerings; one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being.
One who returns a kindness offers choice flour, and one who gives alms sacrifices a thank-offering.
To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is an atonement.
Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed, for all that you offer is in fulfilment of the commandment.
The offering of the righteous enriches the altar, and its pleasing odour rises before the Most High.
The sacrifice of the righteous is acceptable. and it will never be forgotten.
Be generous when you worship the Lord, and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.
With every gift show a cheerful face, and dedicate your tithe with gladness.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford.
For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold.
Commentry
In speaking about the different virtues, we cannot say that one is better than the rest, or that we should pursue them in order of merit. For in fact they are of equal importance with one another, and linked together they lead those who practice them to the height of perfection. Sincerity leads to obedience, obedience in turn to faith, and faith to hope, hope to righteousness, righteousness to service, and service to humility. From humility we learn gentleness which leads to joy, as joy leads to love, and love to prayer. Thus bound to one another and binding their zealous follower, the virtues lead him to the very height of his desires, just as the various forms of wickedness lead those attached to them down the opposite way to the utmost depths of evil.
But we must above all devote ourselves to prayer; for prayer is like a choir-leader in the choir of virtues, by means of which we ask God for the virtues we still lack. Devotion to prayer unites the Christian to God in the communion of a mystic sanctity, in a spiritual possession and a disposition of the soul that no words can describe. With the Spirit then to guide and help him, his love for the Lord like a bright flame, he prays unceasingly in ardent desire, always burning with love for the divine good and refreshing his soul with renewed zeal. As Scripture says: Those who eat me will hunger for more, and those who drink me will thirst for more; and elsewhere: You have filled my heart with gladness; so too the Lord says: The kingdom of heaven is within you.
By the kingdom within us he certainly means that joy which the Spirit instils into our souls from above, as an image and a pledge, reflecting the eternal joy which the souls of the faithful possess in the life to come. So the Lord comforts us in all our afflictions through the working of the Spirit, to keep us safe and to grant us a share of spiritual gifts and of his own special grace. He comforts us in all our troubles, says the Apostle, so that we may be able to comfort others in their distress. And the psalmist says: My whole being cries out with joy to the living God; and: My soul is richly feasted, indicating in all such symbolic sayings the joy and comfort that come from the Spirit. (St. Gregory of Nyssa)
Musical Selection
Hail, queen wisdom, God save you
With your sister humility
Holy poverty, God keep you
With your sister simplicity
Lady love, God save you
With your sister obedience
No man can live in virtue
Without dying unto himself
Lady love, God save you
With your sister obedience
No man can know resurrection
Without dying with Jesus
With your sister humility
Holy poverty, God keep you
With your sister simplicity
Lady love, God save you
With your sister obedience
No man can live in virtue
Without dying unto himself
Lady love, God save you
With your sister obedience
No man can know resurrection
Without dying with Jesus
Collect
Lord,
by your healing gift of grace
you share with us the things of heaven
while we are yet on earth.
Guide us, we pray, in this our present life
and lead us to that everlasting light in which you dwell.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.