The Old Testament reading appointed for the Daily Prayer of the Church comes from the Book of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus (“Church Book”), which was written around the second century before Christ. The author, a sage who lived in Jerusalem, was thoroughly imbued with love for the wisdom tradition, and also for the law, priesthood, 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 books sacred to the Jewish tradition.
The book contains numerous well-crafted maxims, 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, laws, religious worship, and many other matters that reflect the religious and social customs of the time. It is good advice in any age:
Do not praise individuals for their good looks,
or loathe anyone because of appearance alone.
The bee is small among flying creatures,
but what it produces is the best of sweet things.
Do not boast about wearing fine clothes,
and do not exalt yourself when you are honoured;
for the works of the Lord are wonderful,
and his works are concealed from humankind.
Many kings have had to sit on the ground,
but one who was never thought of has worn a crown.
Many rulers have been utterly disgraced,
and the honored have been handed over to others.
Do not find fault before you investigate;
examine first, and then criticize.
Do not answer before you listen,
and do not interrupt when another is speaking.
Do not argue about a matter that does not concern you,
and do not sit with sinners when they judge a case.
My child, do not busy yourself with many matters;
if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless.
If you pursue, you will not overtake,
and by fleeing you will not escape.
There are those who work and struggle and hurry,
but are so much the more in want.
There are others who are slow and need help,
who lack strength and abound in poverty;
but the eyes of the Lord look kindly upon them;
he lifts them out of their lowly condition
and raises up their heads
to the amazement of many.
Good things and bad, life and death,
poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.
The Lord’s gift remains with the devout,
and his favor brings lasting success.
One becomes rich through diligence and self-denial,
and the reward allotted to him is this:
when he says, ‘I have found rest,
and now I shall feast on my goods!’
he does not know how long it will be
until he leaves them to others and dies.
Stand by your agreement and attend to it,
and grow old in your work. (Sirach 11:2-20)
Let us pray: Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Bishop’s Committee Meeting: This Sunday after the 9 AM Eucharist. We will discuss the Community Garden, ECW, Sunday Christian Education for the children, the kitchen and Sunday breakfast and other matters.
Trick-or-treat at St. Augustine. Please bring candy for our annual trick-or-treat for the neighborhood on All Hallows Eve (Halloween) on 31 October 2014 from 6 PM to 9 PM.
All Saints Day will be celebrated Sunday, 2 November 2014. Please send any additions or changes to the list of names to be read to Mary at mawolter1@aol.com.
We will continue with our Adult Christian Education series, Islam in Focus.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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