Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
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.
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.