DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Wednesday, December 12, 2007 Nativity Fast Spyridon, Wonderworker of Trimythous
Kellia: Sirach 7:29-36
Epistle: Hebrews 5:11-6:8
Gospel:
The Totality of Life: Sirach
7:29-36 LXX, especially vs. 36: “Whatsoever
thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.” When the wisdom authors addressed their
brethren under the Old Covenant they could refer to their shared identity as
the People of God, with the whole of life understood as an endowment from the
Lord to be conducted according to His commandments. It is the same for Christians, but made
Christ-specific since God has revealed Himself to us in the Christ Jesus. So you should read their words as Holy
Scripture, but receive them “in the unity of...Christ...no more [as] a
child of the body, but [as] a child of [God’s] Kingdom,” and as a
member of the Church. Since your
holy Illumination in Baptism, you are no longer part of the old man - no longer
of Adam (a human being in general) nor of the Patriarch Judah (a Jew
ethnically) - but of the New Man, Christ our King and our God.
So
then, as you live and undertake a great multitude of activities, the advice of
Jesus-ben-Sirach, one of the ancient writers of
wisdom, applies to you, but in Christ: “remember the end”
(vs. 36)! It does matter
what you choose to take in hand, because it must be done with the end in mind -
your accountability to your God and King never neglected. You do not choose a career, you do not
marry, you do not have children, you do not buy a home or rent an apartment,
you do not buy clothes, you do not pick up groceries, you do not purchase a
car, you do nothing outside the context of the end of your life - its
purpose, its goal, its mission, its totality. The beauty of this
vision of living perfectly that you have chosen is that “thou shalt never do amiss” (vs. 36).
Certain things follow from the end to which
you have committed yourself. Ben-Sirach touches on seven elements that must be themes of
your life in Christ: 1) fear of God, 2) reverence for your priests, 3) giving
to the church, 4) special provision for the poor, 5) generosity toward all, 6)
sharing in the grief of others, and 7) visiting the sick. In a large, complex urban setting,
carrying out these themes must necessarily be influence by the environment and
setting.
The first element, fear of the Lord, is the
litmus test for all the others: (vs. 29).
Impulses to act and ideas to be carried out should be measured against
Christ’s will. The Lord Jesus
resisted some requests set before Him when they would have taken Him from His
primary purpose: “I Am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of
You must reverence the Lord’s Priests
(vs. 29), which includes remaining under their pastoral guidance and not
forsaking them on your own whim (vs. 30), but honoring them (vs. 31) and their
counsel. Do not look to your Priest
merely for his actions in public worship or as a confessor when you sin; but
turn to him in advance of undertakings.
Trust God’s Spirit in him.
Tithes and offerings are a regular part of a
planned, godly life (vs. 31). God
commands this in Holy Scripture (Deut. 12:5,6). When you do not give ten percent of your
increase, there is no fear of the Lord in you but only disdain for Him, His
People, and His Priests.
The poor and needy must be considered
according to your ability, but always you can “stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be
perfected” (vs. 32).
Remember the newly weds, new babies, or a new
home; for “a gift hath grace” (vs. 33).
Join those in grief from your heart (vs. 34),
as the Apostle teaches (Rom. 12:15).
Also, embrace the sick and suffering from your
heart, those you know and those for whom your community makes special
collections, “for that shall make thee...beloved” (Sir. 7:35).
O Master, enable me always to serve Thee,
Thy Holy Church, our Pastors, the needy poor, children, captives, orphans,
widows, the sick, and the suffering - and only as Thou willest.
Return to the December Calendar