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To: All

From: Sirach 51:12cd-20


Thanksgiving Hymn (Continuation)



[12cd] Therefore I will give thanks to thee and praise thee, and I will
bless the name of the Lord.


Poem in the Quest for Wisdom


[13] While I was still young before I went on my travels, I sought wisdom
openly in my prayer. [14] Before the temple I asked for her, and I will
search for her to the last. [15] From blossom to ripening grape my heart
delighted in her; my foot entered upon the straight path; from my youth I
followed her steps. [16] I inclined my ear a little and received her, and I
found for myself much instruction. [17] I made progress therein; to him who
gives wisdom I will give glory. [18] For I resolved to live according to
wisdom, and I was zealous for the good; and I shall never be put to shame.
[19] My soul grappled with wisdom, and in my conduct I was strict; I spread
out my hands to the heavens, and lamented my ignorance of her. [20] I
directed my soul to her, and through purification I found her. I gained
understanding with her from the first, therefore I will not be forsaken.




Commentary:


51:13-30. In Qumran's cave no. 11 a substantial part of the Hebrew text of
this poem was discovered. It shows the epilogue poem originally to have been
acrostic, that is, each of the verses begins with a letter of the Hebrew
alphabet, from beginning to end, in order. The same happens at the very end
of the book of Proverbs, perhaps the most typical of the wisdom books: there
we find the poem about the "perfect wife" (Prov 31:10-31), which is also
acrostic. The poem in Sirach is a call to young men to set out without delay
on the quest for wisdom.



Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.


3 posted on 05/28/2005 6:03:35 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All

From: Mark 11:27-33


Jesus' Authority



[27] And they (Jesus and his disciples) came to Jerusalem. And as he was
walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders
came to him, [28] and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing
these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?" [29] Jesus
said to them, "I will ask you a question; answer me, and I will tell you
by what authority I do these things. [30] Was the baptism of John from
heaven or from men? Answer me." [31] And they argued with one another,
"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did not you not believe
him?' [32] But shall we say, 'From men'?"--they were afraid of the
people, for all held that John was a real prophet. [33] So they answered
Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell
you by what authority I do these things."




Commentary:


27-33. Those who put this question to Jesus are the same people as, some
days earlier, sought to destroy him (cf. Mk 11:18). They represent the
official Judaism of the period (cf. note on Mt 2:4). Jesus had already
given proofs and signs of being the Messiah, in his miracles and
preaching; and St. John the Baptist had borne witness about who Jesus
was. This is why, before replying, our Lord asks them to recognize the
truth proclaimed by the Precursor. But they do not want to accept this
truth; nor do they want to reject it publicly, out of fear of the people.
Since they are not ready to admit their mistake, any further explanation
Jesus might offer would serve no purpose.


This episode has many parallels in everyday life: anyone who seeks to
call God to account will be confounded.



Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.


4 posted on 05/28/2005 6:04:39 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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