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O eternal truth, true love and beloved eternity
Manage episode 436600500 series 3562678
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Today, August 28, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Augustine, Bishop and Doctor, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the book of Sirach (39: 4-10), entitled “The wisdom of a man who is learned in the Scriptures”. Our treasure, which follows, is from the Confessions of Saint Augustine, Bishop.
Saint Augustine was born at Tagaste in Africa in 354. He was unsettled and restlessly searched for the truth until he was converted to the faith at Milan and baptized by Ambrose. Returning to his homeland, he embraced an ascetic life and subsequently was elected bishop of Hippo. For thirty-four years he guided his flock, instructing it with sermons and many writings. He fought bravely against the errors of his time and explained the Faith carefully and cogently through his writings. He died in 430.
The Confessions of Saint Augustine is a spiritual classic and one of the most read books by a saint. In the Confessions, Saint Augustine not only shares his deep insights into the faith of the Church, he also does so in a very personal way. His masterpiece has also proven to become a foundation for many teachings of the Catholic Church.
The Wisdom of Ben Sira derives its title from the author, “Yeshua [Jesus], son of Eleazar, son of Sira”. This seems to be the earliest title of the book. The designation “Liber Ecclesiasticus,” meaning “Church Book”, is perhaps due to the extensive use the church made of this book in presenting moral teaching to catechumens and to the faithful. The title “Sirach” comes from the Greek form of the author’s name.
The author, a sage who lived in Jerusalem, was thoroughly imbued with love for the wisdom tradition, and also for the law, priesthood, Temple, and divine worship. As a wise and experienced observer of life he addressed himself to his contemporaries with the motive of helping them to maintain religious faith and integrity through study of the books sacred to the Jewish tradition.
The book contains numerous well-crafted maxims, grouped by affinity, and dealing with a variety of subjects such as the individual, the family, and the community in their relations with one another and with God. It treats of friendship, education, poverty and wealth, laws, religious worship, and many other matters that reflect the religious and social customs of the time.
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