Word to the Wise
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 - Tuesday in the 7th Week in Ordinary Time
[Sir 2:1-11 and Mark 9:30-37]Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein. [Sirach]
During my years as director of the Newman Center at the University of Arizona (1977-80), a "cooperator brother" was assigned to our Dominican community. Cooperator Brothers are fully members of the order but non-ordained. Theirs is a distinct vocation. When I first entered the order, they were mostly engaged in domestic matters of maintenance. It was not an easy life. The brother who was assigned was a wonderful man and he certainly made my life easier with his talents for maintenance! One day I asked him what enabled him to stay at his vocation and work as hard as he did. His reply was, "Trust the Almighty." That simple response has stayed with me ever since. It certainly echoes the words of the Book of Sirach in today's first scripture!
The great French Dominican preacher, Henri Lacordaire, once wrote, "All I know of tomorrow is that providence will rise before the dawn!" When the Book of Sirach advises me to "grow old" in trusting God, I try to put my trust in that providence. (I am nearing my 80th birthday!) It seems to me to be the wisest thing to do! AMEN