Scripture: Sirach 2:1-11. Psalm 37:v.5,3-4, 18-19,27-28,39-40. Mark
9:30-37.

Sirach contains 51 chapters, thus almost enough for the weeks of a year!
It ends with a great poem of Thanksgiving and Praise of God. In many ways
it is similar to the Book of Proverbs. It has a fascinating history, having
been written by the grandfather of the one called Ben Eleazar, ben Sirach.
It has been translated into Greek around 130 B.C. and thus is part of the
deuterocanonical literature of the Catholic and Orthodox Bible.
Manuscripts of it were found in Egypt and Hebrew chapters of it at Qumran
(Dead Sea Scrolls). The wisdom of this book is very practical and deals
with behavior patterns that are virtuous. Today's chapter 2 is an
admonition to always trust in the Lord. God will never forsake those who
trust in Him. The last line of the lesson for today was my focus for it
seemed to be similar to what Luke had said, "Be merciful as you Father is
merciful." (Luke 6:36). Sirach puts it this way, "For the Lord is
compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of
distress." The Psalm also reminded me of the practical wisdom of Sirach and
also is a psalm of trust in God. Here are the lines that parallel our
first reading, "Commit your life to the Lord, and the Lord will help you.
Trust in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm
37:3-5). In turning to our Gospel for today, we hear the second prediction
of his Passion, Death, and Resurrection coming from the lips of Jesus to
his disciples. Mark will record this once more in order to help the
disciples and us to realize that we need to follow Jesus through his
Passion, Death, and Resurrection by taking up our cross in following Jesus.
(Mark 10:32-34). This demands trust in Jesus on our part that we too will
some day die and rise from the dead. The pericope helps us especially
during the season of Lent or when we feel the burdens of life or sickness
envaying our bodies and spirits. Jesus is there for us with his
compassionate and ever faithful love and forgiveness. He is our way, our
truth, and our life. Amen.