Sirach 6: True Friendship & Wisdom
Friday, April 5, 2019
A re-post from Holy Thursday 2012.
These are wise and beautiful words. We cannot read them too often.
Verses 5 through 17 are full of sound, solid advice that is easy to absorb and use. There is nothing complicated here. We are encouraged to examine not only who our friends are and why, but who we are as friends . . . and why.
Verses 18 through 37 delineate the blessings of wisdom, and when we read them with care it is not difficult to judge if we are wise or foolish. We are given a clear prescription: Put your feet into [Wisdom’s] fetters, and your neck under her yoke. Stoop your shoulders and carry her and be not irked at her bonds. With all your soul draw close to her; with all your strength keep her ways. Search her out, discover her; seek her and you will find her. Then when you have her, do not let her go; thus will you afterward find rest I her, and she will become your joy . . . if you wish, you can be taught; if you apply yourself, you will be shrewd. If you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise.
Our questions on this Holy Thursday are these . . . When it comes to friendship and to wisdom, who are we and how are we? Do we recognize ourselves in any of these descriptions? Whose commandments do we follow? Are we willing to listen and to heed? Are we eager to hear Godly discourse? Are we ready to give ourselves over to God . . . do what it takes to be a loyal and wise friend?
A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy . . . if you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise.
Image from: http://taberstruths.com/walking-gods-wisdom/
The Noontimes 