A Bit of Wisdom

"If you choose, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice."

(Ecclesiasticus 15:5)

Situated in the section of the Bible that is off limits for most Protestants, the writings often referred to as The Apocrypha are an interesting collection of stories, poetry and sayings. More properly called The Deuterocanonical Books (meaning "second canon"), the books in this collection were primarily written in Greek (instead of Hebrew), even though they tell stories that are attached to particular times in the history of the Jews. These texts appeared in the Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures known as The Septuagint, and have enjoyed an uneven history of acceptance within the Christian Church. Presently included in the Roman Catholic Bible and excluded from most Protestant Bibles, the Episcopal Church has consistently read texts from these books in worship and considers them valuable and sacred (even if not quite "inspired" to the same level as the generally accepted books of the Bible).

The verse above is from the deuterocanonical book of Ecclesiasticus (not to be confused with Ecclesiastes!), which is also known as "The Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach" (not to be confused with Jesus, son of Mary!). Most scholars date the book to the 2nd century B.C. and there is general agreement that it was probably written within the environs of Alexandria in Egypt. The content of Ecclesiasticus resembles other writings in the "wisdom" tradition (particularly the Old Testament book of Proverbs). Wisdom literature is characterized by its focus on practical advice, which, if followed, will lead the one heeding this advice toward the "good life".

Wisdom literature is also characterized by its affirmation of human agency. Human beings, in this literature, have the power of self-determination! They can choose which God to worship (or not). They can choose how to behave in proper society (or not). They can choose the commandments they will keep (or not). In fact, the one given in this literature is the individual's inability to choose whether or not she/he actually has the power to choose. We ALL can choose, and the person of wisdom will inevitably make the right choice.

While I appreciate the sentiments of Jesus ben Sirach, I'm not too sure of the "givenness"of human agency. I know my own struggles to "keep the commandments".  I know too well my own faults and failures. And yet, the power such a text has on a Sunday morning is, to remind the hearers that our role as people of faith is about far more than "sharing" opinions and offering helpful advice to others. Our work is to keep making the choice -- no matter how many times we falter -- to "act faithfully".

At the same time, the optimism inherent in Ecclesiasticus is contagious: "Keep making the right choice! Keep being faithful to the choices you have made! And before you know it, you're not simply reading about "wisdom", you're living as a wise one in the world!"

And Goodness knows, the world could use a few more "wise ones"!