Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Sunday, September 1, 2013
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sirach 3:17-20, 28-29
Humility
[17] My son, perform your tasks in meekness; then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. [18] The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favour in the sight of the Lord. [20] For great is the might of the Lord; he is glorified by the humble. [28] The affliction of the proud has no healing, for a plant of wickedness has taken root in him. [29] The mind of the intelligent man will ponder a parable, and an attentive ear is the wise man's desire.
Commentary:
3:1-16:23. Throughout the book each doctrinal passage is followed by a section to do with practical applications, sapiential thoughts on moral conduct, eulogies of virtues and sapiential advice on where to seek things that are truly good, etc. This is the first such section. In it the reader will find an exhortation to prudence in all its various forms.
3:17-29. In line with scholastic custom, the author addresses the reader as a teacher would his pupil: "My son" (v. 17; cf. Prov 1:8; etc.). He is about to deal with a virtue essential for a lover of wisdom – the humility of recognizing one's shortcomings and being ready to learn from others. At the same time Ben Sirach wrote his work, Greek philosophy and new learning were proving very influential. Some Jews turned their backs on the Law of God and the traditional teaching of Israel, to follow foreign teachers. Reason, in its pride, thought it could find the answer to everything -- which made it difficult to accept in all simplicity truths that God put within the reach of those who sincerely sought true wisdom.
Part of the legacy of the Old Testament is the idea that God shows his favour to the humble (Prov. 3:34; Ps 25:14). In the New Testament the Blessed Virgin experiences this, and her joy overflows in the Magnificat. She considers herself the humble handmaid of the Lord, and proclaims that God "has regarded her low estate" (cf. Lk 1:48) and uses her to bring salvation to his people. Very much in line with what Ben Sirach says here, great thinkers such as St Bonaventure have seen that humble devotion is necessary for getting to the truth of things: "Spiritual reading without repentance is not sufficient; nor knowledge without devotion; nor inquiry without the capacity to be surprised; nor prudence without openness to joy; nor any activity devoid of a religious spirit; nor wisdom without charity, intelligence without humility; study without divine grace, or reflection without the wisdom inspired by God" (Itinerarium mentis in Deum, prol., 4).
Source: The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries. Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
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"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." -- St Jerome
"The Father uttered one Word; that Word is His Son, and He utters Him forever in everlasting silence: and in silence the soul has to hear it." -- St John of the Cross
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