Dear brothers and sisters,
Peace and Love of Christ be with you!!!
Today we meditate on the book of Sirach,
also known as Ecclesiasticus. It belongs to the biblical tradition of wisdom
literature, much like Proverbs and the Wisdom of Solomon. Written by Jesus Ben
Sira around the 2nd century BC, Sirach is a collection of teachings on how to
live a righteous and God-centered life. It speaks through experience,
reflection, and tradition, offering us lessons on morality, humility, and the
fleeting nature of worldly success. It reminds us that true wisdom comes from
fearing the Lord and aligning our lives with His will.
In
today’s passage (Sirach 5:1-8), we receive a powerful warning against
complacency, presumption, and delaying our conversion. It is a call to turn to
God now, without postponement, for His
mercy is great, but so is His justice.
The
first line of Sirach strikes a powerful note: “Do not set your heart on your
wealth, nor say, I have enough.” As
humans we tend to seek security in possessions, achievements, and status. ,
Sirach reminds us that true security comes only from the Lord. We are often
tempted to trust in the things we can see and touch, but wealth and material
success are fleeting. They cannot fill the deepest longings of our hearts. They
cannot offer us the peace, joy, and lasting fulfillment that only God can give.
The Lord is inviting us to place our trust in Him, to seek His kingdom first,
and to remember that He alone is our true source of strength and provision.
Sirach continues with a warning: “Do
not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of
your heart.” How often do we act impulsively, driven by our desires and
emotions, without pausing to consider God's will? The desires of our hearts can
lead us astray if they are not aligned with His purpose for our lives. We must
be vigilant in discerning the voice of the Lord, especially when the world
around us offers so many distractions and temptations. True freedom comes from
walking in the ways of God, not in the fleeting passions that pull us away from
His love. If we fail to understand this fundamental truth, then we easily
become slaves of our selfish passions.
Then, Sirach warns us against
presumption: “Do not say, 'Who will have power over me?' for the Lord will
surely punish you.” It is easy to become self-reliant, to think that we are
masters of our own fate, that we can control everything in our lives. But the
Lord is sovereign over all things. No matter how powerful we may feel or how
secure we may think we are, we are never beyond His reach. His justice is
perfect, and He is ever watchful, calling us to humility and repentance.
The passage also cautions us against the
complacency that can settle in our hearts: “Do not say, 'I sinned, and what
happened to me?” How often do we fall into the trap of thinking that our
sins are of little consequence, that nothing will happen to us? “The Lord is
slow to anger,” but His mercy should never be mistaken for indifference. His
patience with us is a gift, but it is not to be taken for granted. We cannot
continue to live in sin, thinking that there will always be time for
repentance. We must respond to His call now, while His mercy is still available
to us.
Sirach urges us to be mindful of our
actions, warning against the dangerous attitude of presumption: “Do not be
so confident of atonement that you add sin to sin.” The Lord's mercy is
vast, yes, but we must never use it as an excuse to continue in sin. We must
seek true conversion, not just a superficial appearance of repentance. Our
hearts must be truly changed, our actions truly transformed, if we are to live
in the fullness of His grace.
“Do not say, 'His mercy is great; he
will forgive the multitude of my sins.” While it is true that God’s mercy
is great, this should never lead us to treat sin lightly. Mercy and wrath are
both with Him. We cannot presume upon His grace. His mercy calls us to
conversion, to a real change in our lives. And His justice demands that we turn
away from sin, for our actions have consequences.
The most striking call comes in verse 7:
“Do not delay to turn to the Lord, nor postpone it from day to day.” How
many times have we said, “I will turn to God later”? How often do we think
that we have more time, that we can delay our conversion, that we can put off
seeking God with our whole heart? But Sirach reminds us that the Lord’s wrath
can come suddenly, and if we wait too long, we may find ourselves unprepared. Today,
right now, is the moment to turn to the Lord. There is no time to waste. He is
waiting for us with open arms, ready to welcome us back, but we must make the
choice to return to Him.
Finally, Sirach warns against depending
on “dishonest wealth,” for it will not benefit us in the day of calamity.
Wealth and possessions cannot save us in times of trouble. Only God can deliver
us. Only He can provide for us, protect us, and give us peace. When the storms
of life come, it is not our material possessions that will save us but our
faith in God.
Dear friends, today the Lord is inviting
us to examine our hearts. He calls us to turn away from the false securities of
this world and to place our trust in Him alone. We cannot delay in seeking His
mercy, for we do not know what tomorrow holds. Let us seek Him with urgency and
sincerity, knowing that His mercy is great but His justice is real. May we live
our lives not depending on wealth or success, but on the solid foundation of
God’s love and grace. Let us respond today, with all our hearts, to the call to
holiness, to repentance, and to a deeper relationship with our Lord.
May God bless you all and strengthen
your faith as you walk with Him today. Amen.
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