Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Do the right thing
My son.
When you come to serve the Lord, stand in justice and fear, and prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, be undisturbed in time of adversity. Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not; thus will you be wise in all your ways.
Ecclesiastes was Solomon’s legacy of wisdom. Ecclesiasticus is the legacy of Ben Sira (or Shimon ben Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira), who was a Jewish sage of the Second Temple period (200 BC). Also called Sirach, Ben’s book brims with wisdom.
Read it aloud.
Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient. In fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people are tested in humiliation.
At the hospital one person after another approaches the nurse. She asks her questions, checks their numbers and makes the triage decision. No, I can’t wait behind those other people. I am in pain! But she has made her decision. Others are in more pain than you, she says. She looks deep into my eyes. Be patient, she says, with those eyes. Get some ashes on your face; it’s Ash Wednesday tomorrow.
Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein. Wait for his mercy.
You who fear the Lord, trust him, and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.
You who fear the Lord, love him, and your hearts will be enlightened.
My body parts are wearing out. I’ve known in my mind this would happen and said so, often. Still, as my joints ache and my feet are more and more numb, and I get quickly out of breath (oh, just get on with it!), my immortality is in question. Keep his fear and grow old therein.
Remind me, Lord, that you are the everlasting one. I belong to you; you have put me on the path to your throne room, to your garden, to your home, to mine.
If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant. Whoever receives even one child such as this in my name, receives me.
As Peter said on Mt. Tabor, it is good that we are here, Lord. Can we build tents for you, for Moses, for Elijah? Can I do the right thing, disregarding consequences, offering my life? Worthy people are tested in humiliation.
There’s no hurry, God says. We don’t need no stinkin’ tents. We just need you.
Study the generations long past and understand:
Has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed?
Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?
Has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
God, do you ever answer any questions? OK, I guess the answer to all of those, given our life beyond death, is … NO! NO ONE! Not disappointed. Not forsaken. Not rebuffed.
And so … not me, too.
Compassionate and merciful is the Lord; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth.
 (Sirach 2, Psalm 37, Galatians 6, Mark 9)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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