May 25, 2013

Sirach 17: 1-15

The Lord created man out of earth, and turned him back to it again.  He gave to men few days, a limited time, but granted them authority over the things upon the earth.  He endowed them with strength like his own, and made them in his own image.  He placed the fear of them in all living beings, and granted them dominion over beasts and birds.  He made for them tongue and eyes; he gave them ears and a mind for thinking.  He filled them with knowledge and understanding, and showed them good and evil.   He set his eye upon their hearts to show them the majesty of his works. And they will praise his holy name, to proclaim the grandeur of his works.  He bestowed knowledge upon them, and allotted to them the law of life.  He established with them an eternal covenant, and showed them his judgments.  Their eyes saw his glorious majesty, and their ears heard the glory of his voice.  And he said to them, "Beware of all unrighteousness." And he gave commandment to each of them concerning his neighbor. Their ways are always before him, they will not be hid from his eyes. New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations

Life – A Holy Gift

The Lord formed human beings….He made them to be like himself. Sirach 17: 1-3 Donald Cross Peattie has written a lot about nature.  In one article he made this suggestion:  If you ever find a spider spinning a web, run and get your little boy or girl. “Lift your child to see.  Tell him that the shining sliver drawn out of the spider’s body has a greater tensile strength than steel.  If he learns admiration instead of disgust for the tiny spinner, he will have learned one of the greatest lessons in nature—that all life is sacred.” Today, more than ever, we need to stress that all life—especially human life— is a gift from God and is sacred. To what extent—and why—do I agree that today, more than ever, we need to stress the sacredness of life? By having reverence for life, we enter into a spiritual relationship with the world.  Albert Schweitzer —Excerpted from Action by Fr. Mark Link, S.J.  © 2000 RCL Enterprises, Inc., Allen TX.  For more prayer resources by Fr. Link, please visit www.staygreat.com

Prayer

All praise be yours, my Lord, through all you have made, and first my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and through whom you give us light. How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor; Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness. All Praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, bright, and precious, and fair. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers wind and air, and fair and stormy, all the weather's moods, by which you cherish all that you have made. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, humble, precious and pure. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten up the night. How beautiful is he, how cheerful! Full of power and strength. All praise be yours, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs. — Abridged version of Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon of St. Francis of Assisi
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