Our first reading from the Book of Sirach is one of those classic comforting scriptures: the kind of verses that say so much in so little space. It speaks of those who come to serve the Lord: those who do so in religious life; but also, everyone who comes to be baptized and thus chooses to live a religious kind of life thereafter, as well: when you come to serve him: stand in justice and fear and prepare yourselves for trials. These three elements are a must for anyone who wants to be a true disciple! Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity. Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not; thus will you be wise in all your ways. What soaring and magnificent sentiments! Accept whatever befalls you; when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient; for in fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein.
We must fear the Lord – after all he is God – and we are creatures! Fear the Lord, wait for his mercy! Fear the Lord, trust him and your reward will not be lost. Fear him, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy. Fear him, love him and your hearts will be enlightened.
Study the generations past and understand: has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
Compassionate and merciful is the Lord; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble and he is a protector to all who fear him rightly and seek him in truth!
The gospel passage today is really about how all this applies to Jesus himself (and us). Jesus, as a son of Adam (one of us), in all things except sin, stood always in justice and fear of God, his Father! Even though Jesus was himself God, he respected his Father ultimately and in a supremely healthy way "feared to say or do anything" that would separate him from God's love! Although this would not happen – the possibility of it happening would have to be there if Jesus was to be truly human as we are human!
Jesus then, kept his entire focus on God his Father so that when adversity came to him he was not forsaken – even the crushing misfortune of the Crucifixion. As gold and silver is tested in fire – so was Jesus in mental agony and physical pain and suffering. Yet, because Jesus trusted God his Father absolutely and completely – in due time – everything worked out splendidly. He was rewarded with newness of life at his resurrection (of which those in the gospel passage still had no idea as to what it was to be all about); and he accomplished by dying on the cross the forgiveness of our sins and a share for us in resurrected life!
When we commit our lives to the Lord, as Jesus did, he will help us, as he helped Jesus – and Jesus himself and their Holy Spirit will come to our aid as often as we need: all we need to do is to ask them to come!
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