your friends

November 21, 2018

You were with Jesus (Mk 14:67-14:67)

“When she saw Peter

Warming himself,

She stared

At him.

She said.

‘You also

Were with Jesus,

The man from Nazareth.’”

 

καὶ ἰδοῦσα τὸν Πέτρον θερμαινόμενον ἐμβλέψασα αὐτῷ λέγει Καὶ σὺ μετὰ τοῦ Ναζαρηνοῦ ἦσθα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ.

 

This is similar to Matthew, chapter 26:69, and Luke, chapter 22:56.  John, chapter 18:17, has just a woman without any further description.  Mark said that Peter was warming himself in the high priest’s courtyard (καὶ ἰδοῦσα τὸν Πέτρον θερμαινόμενον).  This young servant girl or maid of the high priest was looking or staring at Peter (ἐμβλέψασα αὐτῷ).  She said to Peter (λέγει) that he had been with Jesus, the man from Nazareth (Καὶ σὺ μετὰ τοῦ Ναζαρηνοῦ ἦσθα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ), and not a Galilean as in Matthew.  She had spotted Peter with Jesus.  She knew that Jesus was from Nazareth.  Now she recognized Peter.  She may have seen Jesus and his followers somewhere beforehand.  People judge you by your company.  Would you deny your friends?

September 5, 2018

Jesus refuses the former possessed man (Mk 5:19-5:19)

“But Jesus refused.

He said to him.

‘Go home

To your friends!

Tell them

How much

The Lord

Has done for you!

How he has had mercy

On you!’”

 

καὶ οὐκ ἀφῆκεν αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ λέγει αὐτῷ Ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου πρὸς τοὺς σούς, καὶ ἀπάγγειλον αὐτοῖς ὅσα ὁ Κύριός σοι πεποίηκεν καὶ ἠλέησέν σε.

 

There is something similar in Luke, chapter 8:38-39, while there is nothing like this in Matthew.  Mark said that Jesus refused this former demoniac.  He would not permit him to go with them (καὶ οὐκ ἀφῆκεν αὐτόν).  But he said to him (ἀλλὰ λέγει αὐτῷ) to go his own home (Ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου πρὸς τοὺς σούς).  Then he was to preach, announce, or tell others (καὶ ἀπάγγειλον αὐτοῖς) how much the Lord had done for him (ὅσα ὁ Κύριός σοι πεποίηκεν) with his great mercy for him (καὶ ἠλέησέν σε).

June 14, 2016

Things not to ashamed of (Sir 42:1-42:8)

“You should not be ashamed of the following things.

Do not sin to save face!

Do not be ashamed of the law of the Most High!

Do not be ashamed of his covenant!

Do not be ashamed of rendering judgment to acquit the ungodly!

Do not be ashamed of keeping accounts with a partner!

Do not be ashamed of keeping accounts with traveling companions!

Do not be ashamed of dividing the inheritance of friends!

Do not be ashamed of accuracy with scales!

Do not be ashamed of accuracy with weights!

Do not be ashamed of acquiring much!

Do not be ashamed of acquiring little!

Do not be ashamed of profit from dealing with merchants!

Do not be ashamed of frequent disciplining of children!

Do not be ashamed of drawing blood

From the back of a wicked servant!

Where there is an untrustworthy wife,

A seal is a good thing.

Where there are many hands,

Lock things up!

When you make a deposit,

Be sure it is counted!

Be sure it is weighed!

When you give put it all in a written record!

When you receive put it all in a written record!

Do not be ashamed to instruct the stupid!

Do not be ashamed to instruct the foolish!

Do not be ashamed to instruct the aged

Who are guilty of sexual immorality!

Then you will show your sound training.

You will be approved by all.”

Here Sirach points out the things that you should not be ashamed to do. However, in this listing, he shows his prejudice against strangers, slaves, women, and children. He has kind but cautious words for commerce and profit. You should not sin to save face. Obviously, you should not be ashamed of the law of the Most High God and his covenant. You should render judgment against the ungodly. You can keep accounts with your partners and traveling companions. You can divide the inheritance of your friends. You should not be ashamed of your balanced scales or making money with merchants. You should not be afraid to discipline your children, your wicked slaves, and your untrustworthy wife. Be careful when many people are around. When you make a deposit, make sure that everything is counted and weighed. Keep a written record of your dealings. Do not be ashamed to correct the stupid, foolish, or the immoral old guys. Thus you will show your good training. You will get approval from everyone.

May 30, 2016

Discipline of a son (Sir 30:1-30:3)

“He who loves his son

Will whip him often.

Thus he may rejoice

At the way he turns out.

He who disciplines his son,

Will profit by him.

He will boast of him

Among acquaintances.

He who teaches his son

Will make his enemies envious.

He will glory in him

In the presence of friends.”

Sirach says that if you love your son, you will whip him often. This is the spare the rod spoils the son idea, since there is no rejection of corporal punishment. Then you will rejoice when you see how your son has turned out. You will have a great reward, if you discipline your son. You will be able to boast about him among your acquaintances. If you teach your son, your enemies will be envious. You will also be able to glorify your son in the presence of your friends. There is this constant problem of friends and enemies.

May 7, 2016

Looming death (Sir 14:11-14:14)

“My child!

Treat yourself well,

According to your means.

Present worthy offerings

To the Lord.

Remember

That death does not tarry.

The decree of Hades

Has not been shown to you.

Do good to your friends

Before you die.

Reach out!

Give to them

As much as you can.

Do not deprive yourself

Of a day’s enjoyment.

Do not let your share of desired goods

Pass you by.”

Sirach wants you to take care of yourself as much as you can. Make worthy offerings to the Lord. Remember, that death will come soon enough, since you do not know the day of your death. Be nice to your friends before you die. Give them as much as you can, but don’t deprive yourself of enjoyment. Keep your share of goods.

May 5, 2016

Watch your sinning companions (Sir 12:13-12:15)

“Who pities

A snake charmer

When he is bitten?

Who pities

All those who go near wild animals?

So no one pities a person

Who associates with a sinner.

He will become involved in the other’s sins.

He stands by you for a while.

But if you falter,

He will not be there.”

No one pities a snake charmer who gets bit. Neither does anyone pity a person who goes near wild animals. So too, no one pities a person who hangs out with sinners. You will be involved with those sinners. By your friends, you will be known. They will stand with you for a while, but if you fall, they will be gone.

April 28, 2016

Lies (Sir 7:11-7:14)

“Do not ridicule a person

Who is embittered in spirit.

There is One who abases.

There is One who exalts.

Do not devise a lie against your brother.

Do not do the same to a friend.

Refuse to utter any lie.

It is a habit that results in no good.

Do not babble in the assembly of the elders.

Do not repeat yourself

When you pray.”

Here are more prescriptions of Sirach. You should be trustworthy. You should not ridicule people who are having a hard time. Leave it up to God, the Holy One, to abase or exalt. Do not make up lies against your brother or your friends. Do not become a habitual liar because that is not good. Do not babble among the assembly of the elders. When you pray, do not repeat yourself.