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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.

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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 acros-
tic, 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 Pro-
verbs, perhaps the most typical of the wisdom books: there we find the poem a-
bout the “perfect wife” (Prov 31:10-31), which is also acrostic. The poem in Si-
rach is a call to young men to set out without delay on the quest for wisdom.

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Mark 11:27-33

Jesus’ Authority

[27] And they (Jesus and his disciples) came to Jerusalem. And as he was wal-
king 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.”

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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 be-
ing 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.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.