Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 25, 2013 - Friday in the 7th Week in Ordinary Time
[Sir 6:5-17 and Mark 10:1-12]God from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him. He makes man return to earth again, and endows him with a strength of his own. Limited days of life he gives him, with power over all things else on earth.....
In the midst of very busy human lives with all the challenges that confront each human being in his or her effort to survive each day (the majority in terrifying circumstances) it is difficult to entertain broad visions. As one of my philosophy professors once put it, "It's difficult to get the big picture when you're living inside the frame!" Yet, the wonderful passage from Sirach today presents us with such a vision and shows us how broad indeed wisdom can be!
The vision is based on Genesis and in a very few verses describes God's providential work which includes the special choice of Israel. Sirach sees the human person as being at the center of all of God's work but nevertheless subject to God. If we read beyond today's verses to the end of chapter 17, we learn that humanity is prone to sin and error. Those who repent may be sure of mercy, but in the end, as we learn on Ash Wednesday: "all men are dust and ashes!"
It is at this point that Christian faith moves forward. The resurrection of Christ makes known to us that the human person has a destiny beyond its earthly time. Death is not the end of existence. However, this should not blind us to the beauty of Sirach's words of wisdom. We are accountable to God for our actioins in living out our allotted time. We can glory in God's magnificent works while doing what we can to help those who are victims of our sins and errors. In short, Sirach offers us today the chance to step outside the frame and see the big picture of which we are a part! AMEN