Tuesday of the
Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
(Sirach 2:1-11; Mark 9:30-37)
There is a story about Don Ramon, an old man who lived in
a village in the state of Tabasco in Mexico.
Every day Don Ramos was seen sitting in front of the hut where he lived
with an open Bible on his lap. One day a
passer-by, a visiting priest from the United States, stopped to talk with the
old man. “Don Ramon,” the priest asked, “what
are you reading in the Bible?” The old
man looked at the priest and said: “Padrecito, I do not know how to read. So I sit here every morning and ask God to
teach me something from his Word. And
every morning He does. God has never
failed me!” This story of Don Ramon exemplifies
the message in today’s first reading.
Sirach, the Old Testament sage, tells his readers, “Wait
on God, with patience, cling to him, …Trust God and God will help you; trust in
him, and he will direct your way…” God
does not abandon those who seek him.
Rather they will learn that it is He who has sought them first. Sirach probably learned this lesson from bitter
experience. During his time Israel was
occupied by Greek rulers who tried to forcibly change Jewish ways and
customs. They even desecrated the
Temple! Sirach preaches patience and trust. The Lord will show the Jews what to do. They must wait on him.
We live in a trying time as well. (Perhaps all times are trying.) The Church appears under siege, and many
people are angry about one thing or another.
We have to heed Sirach’s advice. Like
Don Ramon we are wise to wait on the Lord every day. We have the advantage of being able to search
the Scriptures for an inspiration. There
He will advise us how to not become discouraged but to help improve the
situation.
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