ETERNAL HUNGER

Ecclesiasticus 24.1-22

The  Praise of  Wisdom 

  24  Wisdom praises herself,

    and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.

 2   In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,

    and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:

 3   ‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,

    and covered the earth like a mist.

 4   I dwelt in the highest heavens,

    and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.

 5   Alone I compassed the vault of heaven

    and traversed the depths of the abyss.

 6   Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,

    and over every people and nation I have held sway.

 7   Among all these I sought a resting-place;

    in whose territory should I abide? 

 8   ‘Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,

    and my Creator chose the place for my tent. He said, “Make your dwelling in Jacob,

    and in Israel receive your inheritance.”

 9   Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,

    and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.

 10   In the holy tent I ministered before him,

    and so I was established in Zion.

 11   Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting-place,

    and in Jerusalem was my domain.

 12   I took root in an honoured people,

    in the portion of the Lord, his heritage. 

 13   ‘I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon,

    and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.

 14   I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi,

    and like rose-bushes in Jericho; like a fair olive tree in the field,

    and like a plane tree beside water I grew tall.

 15   Like cassia and camel’s thorn I gave forth perfume,

    and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance, like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,

    and like the odour of incense in the tent.

 16   Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,

    and my branches are glorious and graceful.

 17   Like the vine I bud forth delights,

    and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit. 

 19   ‘Come to me, you who desire me,

    and eat your fill of my fruits.

 20   For the memory of me is sweeter than honey,

    and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.

 21   Those who eat of me will hunger for more,

    and those who drink of me will thirst for more.

 22   Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,

    and those who work with me will not sin.’ 

ETERNAL HUNGER

Lord,

I know keenly

That eternal hunger:

It is never satisfied

The desperate need

For understanding,

For truth,

For the daily discernment

Of the right way.

That hunger is

Satisfied in You:

Give me today

My daily bread.

AMEN

THE PRIME- MOVER

Ecclesiasticus 22.27-23.15

 27   Who will set a guard over my mouth,

    and an effective seal upon my lips, so that I may not fall because of them,

    and my tongue may not destroy me?

23  O Lord, Father and Master of my life,

    do not abandon me to their designs,

    and do not let me fall because of them!

 2   Who will set whips over my thoughts,

    and the discipline of wisdom over my mind, so as not to spare me in my errors,

    and not overlook my sins?

 3   Otherwise my mistakes may be multiplied,

    and my sins may abound, and I may fall before my adversaries,

    and my enemy may rejoice over me.

 4   O Lord, Father and God of my life,

    do not give me haughty eyes,

 5 

    and remove evil desire from me.

 6   Let neither gluttony nor lust overcome me,

    and do not give me over to shameless passion.

Discipline of the  Tongue   

 7   Listen, my children, to instruction concerning the mouth;

    one who observes it will never be caught.

 8   Sinners are overtaken through their lips;

    by them the reviler and the arrogant are tripped up.

 9   Do not accustom your mouth to oaths,

    nor habitually utter the name of the Holy One;

 10   for as a servant who is constantly under scrutiny

    will not lack bruises, so also the person who always swears and utters the Name

    will never be cleansed from sin.

 11   One who swears many oaths is full of iniquity,

    and the scourge will not leave his house. If he swears in error, his sin remains on him,

    and if he disregards it, he sins doubly; if he swears a false oath, he will not be justified,

    for his house will be filled with calamities. 

 12   There is a manner of speaking comparable to death;

    may it never be found in the inheritance of Jacob! Such conduct will be far from the godly,

    and they will not wallow in sins.

 13   Do not accustom your mouth to coarse, foul language,

    for it involves sinful speech.

 14   Remember your father and mother

    when you sit among the great, or you may forget yourself in their presence,

    and behave like a fool through bad habit; then you will wish that you had never been born,

    and you will curse the day of your birth.

 15   Those who are accustomed to using abusive language

    will never become disciplined as long as they live. 

THE PRIME MOVER

The tongue

And its talk

Is the prime- mover

Of sorrow and discord.

Deliver me Lord

From the misuse

Of speech.

Help me heed the warning:

To become accustomed

To being abusive

Is to be forever

The victim of 

A chaotic, mind and heart.

AMEN

THE FRUIT OF REFLECTION

Ecclesiasticus 22.6-22

 6   Like music in time of mourning is ill-timed conversation,

    but a thrashing and discipline are at all times wisdom. 

 9   Whoever teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together,

    or who rouses a sleeper from deep slumber.

 10   Whoever tells a story to a fool tells it to a drowsy man;

    and at the end he will say, ‘What is it?’

 11   Weep for the dead, for he has left the light behind;

    and weep for the fool, for he has left intelligence behind. Weep less bitterly for the dead, for he is at rest;

    but the life of the fool is worse than death.

 12   Mourning for the dead lasts seven days,

    but for the foolish or the ungodly it lasts all the days of their lives.

 13   Do not talk much with a senseless person

    or visit an unintelligent person. Stay clear of him, or you may have trouble,

    and be spattered when he shakes himself. Avoid him and you will find rest,

    and you will never be wearied by his lack of sense.

 14   What is heavier than lead?

    And what is its name except ‘Fool’?

 15   Sand, salt, and a piece of iron

    are easier to bear than a stupid person. 

 16   A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building

    is not loosened by an earthquake; so the mind firmly resolved after due reflection

    will not be afraid in a crisis.

 17   A mind settled on an intelligent thought

    is like stucco decoration that makes a wall smooth.

 18   Fences set on a high place

    will not stand firm against the wind; so a timid mind with a fool’s resolve

    will not stand firm against any fear. 

 19   One who pricks the eye brings tears,

    and one who pricks the heart makes clear its feelings.

 20   One who throws a stone at birds scares them away,

    and one who reviles a friend destroys a friendship.

 21   Even if you draw your sword against a friend,

    do not despair, for there is a way back.

 22   If you open your mouth against your friend,

    do not worry, for reconciliation is possible. But as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure of secrets, or a treacherous blow-

    in these cases any friend will take to flight.

THE FRUIT OF REFLECTION

Lord,

I need self-discipline

To give myself time

To reflect:

Time to allow

Your Word

To take root

In the ground

Of my heart.

Lest, being hasty

And unresolved

I should collapse

In a crisis.

AMEN

MARVELLOUS POWER

St. Matthew 9.1-8

JESUS entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. And behold, certain of the Scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee? or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitude saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, who had given such power unto men.

MARVELLOUS POWER.

Lord,

You possess the greatest,

Most marvellous

Of all powers:

The power to

Transform the heart,

To bring new life,

Create new beginnings,

To liberate,

To reconcile.

Your power to forgive

Is the power of Love

For Love’s sake.

AMEN

THAT VICIOUS SNAKE

Ecclesiasticus 21.1-17

21  Have you sinned, my child? Do so no more,

    but ask forgiveness for your past sins.

 2   Flee from sin as from a snake;

    for if you approach sin, it will bite you. Its teeth are lion’s teeth,

    and can destroy human lives.

 3   All lawlessness is like a two-edged sword;

    there is no healing for the wound it inflicts. 

 4   Panic and insolence will waste away riches;

    thus the house of the proud will be laid waste.

 5   The prayer of the poor goes from their lips to the ears of God,

    and his judgement comes speedily.

 6   Those who hate reproof walk in the sinner’s steps,

    but those who fear the Lord repent in their heart.

 7   The mighty in speech are widely known;

    when they slip, the sensible person knows it. 

 8   Whoever builds his house with other people’s money

    is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound.

 9   An assembly of the wicked is like a bundle of tow,

    and their end is a blazing fire.

 10   The way of sinners is paved with smooth stones,

    but at its end is the pit of Hades. 

 11   Whoever keeps the law controls his thoughts,

    and the fulfilment of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.

 12   One who is not clever cannot be taught,

    but there is a cleverness that increases bitterness.

 13   The knowledge of the wise will increase like a flood,

    and their counsel like a life-giving spring.

 14   The mind of a fool is like a broken jar;

    it can hold no knowledge. 

 15   When an intelligent person hears a wise saying,

    he praises it and adds to it; when a fool hears it, he laughs at it

    and throws it behind his back.

 16   A fool’s chatter is like a burden on a journey,

    but delight is found in the speech of the intelligent.

 17   The utterance of a sensible person is sought in the assembly,

    and they ponder his words in their minds. 

THAT VICIOUS SNAKE

Lord,

From the beginning

That vicious snake

Has spoiled everything:

Sowing discord,

Causing pain,

A killer of love

Hope and faith.

Lead me not into temptation,

Deliver me from evil,

For if  I put out my hand

To touch the snake of sin

It will surely bite me

Like a lion.

AMEN

DETESTABLE CLEVERNESS

 20   The whole of wisdom is fear of the Lord,

    and in all wisdom there is the fulfilment of the law.

 22   The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom,

    nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners.

 23   There is a cleverness that is detestable,

    and there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.

 24   Better are the God-fearing who lack understanding

    than the highly intelligent who transgress the law.

 25   There is a cleverness that is exact but unjust,

    and there are people who abuse favours to gain a verdict.

 26   There is the villain bowed down in mourning, but inwardly he is full of deceit.

 27   He hides his face and pretends not to hear,

    but when no one notices, he will take advantage of you.

 28   Even if lack of strength keeps him from sinning,

    he will nevertheless do evil when he finds the opportunity.

 29   A person is known by his appearance,

    and a sensible person is known when first met face to face.

 30   A person’s attire and hearty laughter,

    and the way he walks, show what he is. 

DETESTABLE CLEVERNESS

Lord,

Sometimes I admit 

I am ’too clever

For my own good.’

That quick answer,

The witty and thoughtless remark,

The cutting observati

The savage joke.

Open my heart

And mind

To be transformed 

After the manner of Christ Jesus.

AMEN

CARELESS TALK COSTS

Ecclesiasticus 19.4-17

 4   One who trusts others too quickly has a shallow mind,

    and one who sins does wrong to himself.

 5   One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned,

 6 

    but one who hates gossip has less evil.

 7   Never repeat a conversation,

    and you will lose nothing at all.

 8   With friend or foe do not report it,

    and unless it would be a sin for you, do not reveal it;

 9   for someone may have heard you and watched you,

    and in time will hate you.

 10   Have you heard something? Let it die with you.

    Be brave, it will not make you burst!

 11   Having heard something, the fool suffers birth-pangs

    like a woman in labour with a child.

 12   Like an arrow stuck in a person’s thigh,

    so is gossip inside a fool. 

 13   Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it;

    or if he did, so that he may not do it again.

 14   Question a neighbour; perhaps he did not say it;

    or if he said it, so that he may not repeat it.

 15   Question a friend, for often it is slander;

    so do not believe everything you hear.

 16   A person may make a slip without intending it.

    Who has not sinned with his tongue?

 17   Question your neighbour before you threaten him;

    and let the law of the Most High take its course. 

CARELESS TALK COSTS…

Lord,

You often stayed quiet;

Knowing the power

Of words.

Wary of being trapped

By what you said.

You are The Word

That gives Life.

Help me to place

All my words in Your Word.

Purify my speech,

Control my tongue,

May all I say

At all times

Give You glory.

AMEN

THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS!

Ecclesiasticus 18.1-14

18  He who lives for ever created the whole universe;

 2 

    the Lord alone is just.

 4   To none has he given power to proclaim his works;

    and who can search out his mighty deeds?

 5   Who can measure his majestic power?

    And who can fully recount his mercies?

 6   It is not possible to diminish or increase them,

    nor is it possible to fathom the wonders of the Lord.

 7   When human beings have finished, they are just beginning,

    and when they stop, they are still perplexed.

 8   What are human beings, and of what use are they?

    What is good in them, and what is evil?

 9   The number of days in their life is great if they reach one hundred years.

 10   Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand,

    so are a few years among the days of eternity.

 11   That is why the Lord is patient with them

    and pours out his mercy upon them.

 12   He sees and recognizes that their end is miserable;

    therefore he grants them forgiveness all the more.

 13   The compassion of human beings is for their neighbours,

    but the compassion of the Lord is for every living thing. He rebukes and trains and teaches them,

    and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock.

 14   He has compassion on those who accept his discipline

    and who are eager for his precepts. 

THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS!

Lord,

You suffer with

Every living thing:

Even the sparrow

Falling to the ground.

Every atom has its origin

And finds its purpose

In You.

It is Your

Will and desire

That all creation

Shall be reconciled 

In Christ

To You.

AMEN

AWE AND FEAR

Ecclesiasticus 17.1-24

17  The Lord created human beings out of earth,

    and makes them return to it again.

 2   He gave them a fixed number of days,

    but granted them authority over everything on the earth.

 3   He endowed them with strength like his own,

    and made them in his own image.

 4   He put the fear of them in all living beings,

    and gave them dominion over beasts and birds.

 6   Discretion and tongue and eyes,

    ears and a mind for thinking he gave them.

 7   He filled them with knowledge and understanding,

    and showed them good and evil.

 8   He put the fear of him into their hearts

    to show them the majesty of his works.

 10   And they will praise his holy name,

 9 

    to proclaim the grandeur of his works.

 11   He bestowed knowledge upon them,

    and allotted to them the law of life.

 12   He established with them an eternal covenant,

    and revealed to them his decrees.

 13   Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,

    and their ears heard the glory of his voice.

 14   He said to them, ‘Beware of all evil.’

    And he gave commandment to each of them concerning a neighbour.

 15   Their ways are always known to him;

    they will not be hid from his eyes.

 17   He appointed a ruler for every nation,

    but Israel is the Lord’s own portion.

 19   All their works are as clear as the sun before him,

    and his eyes are ever upon their ways.

 20   Their iniquities are not hidden from him,

    and all their sins are before the Lord.

 22   One’s almsgiving is like a signet ring with the Lord,

    and he will keep a person’s kindness like the apple of his eye.

 23   Afterwards he will rise up and repay them,

    and he will bring their recompense on their heads.

 24   Yet to those who repent he grants a return,

    and he encourages those who are losing hope. 

AWE AND FEAR

Lord,

Your creation

Is a fear full thing;

So infinitely vast

And yet so

Immeasurably small.

Full of both staggering beauty

And sickening violence.

In awe of You

It is not wrong

To sometimes feel

Afraid of You.

AMEN

OUT OF MIND

Ecclesiasticus 16.17-end

 17   Do not say, ‘I am hidden from the Lord,

    and who from on high has me in mind? Among so many people I am unknown,

    for what am I in a boundless creation?

 18   Lo, heaven and the highest heaven,

    the abyss and the earth, tremble at his visitation!

 19   The very mountains and the foundations of the earth

    quiver and quake when he looks upon them.

 20   But no human mind can grasp this,

    and who can comprehend his ways?

 21   Like a tempest that no one can see,

    so most of his works are concealed.

 22   Who is to announce his acts of justice?

    Or who can await them? For his decree is far off.’

 23   Such are the thoughts of one devoid of understanding;

    a senseless and misguided person thinks foolishly. 

 24   Listen to me, my child, and acquire knowledge,

    and pay close attention to my words.

 25   I will impart discipline precisely

    and declare knowledge accurately. 

 26   When the Lord created his works from the beginning,

    and, in making them, determined their boundaries,

 27   he arranged his works in an eternal order,

    and their dominion for all generations. They neither hunger nor grow weary,

    and they do not abandon their tasks.

 28   They do not crowd one another,

    and they never disobey his word.

 29   Then the Lord looked upon the earth,

    and filled it with his good things.

 30   With all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,

    and into it they must return. 

OUT OF MIND

Lord,

The wonder and purpose

Of Your creation

Is beyond the 

Human mind.

Yet,

I believe,

I know;

That my life,

My story,

My hidden self,

Is not beyond

Yours.

AMEN