Jesus' New Year's Resolutions

Psst...

I just finished reading a book called Ecclesiasticus.  It's part of the Apocrypha. I don't know if it's part of the Catholic Bible.  It is NOT part of the TaNaK, or Hebrew scriptures.  I really liked it.  It's sounds like Ecclesiastes so you'd think it's just like it.  It's not.  It's a cross between Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Poor Richard's Almanac.  I don't know; you'll see.  It isn't authoritative; but it is great.

    The parameters of this blog should be as follows. 

1. If you read the whole blog you will have read the whole book.  (This blog is intended to be sort of educational/exploratory.)

2. If you read the whole blog you will hear commentary that is not always correct. (Ha ha ha)

3. I'm going to be making certain political statements. (Sorry, I'll try to make them non-bumper-stickery.)

4. I'll make posts when I'm good and ready; but I'll try to get through the book and have at least 52 posts by the next time this date rolls around.

  After all here I am on the first day of the new year and I want an adventure.  This? A blog about an unpopular and obscure book of wisdom literature?  Yes.  For the pursuit of wisdom is a love story.  It is a torrid affair.  It is heart wrenching drama.  The Bible sometimes uses wisdom as an incarnation like in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and some have even wrongly thought wisdom was the love interest in The Song of Songs.  (I said wrongly.)  Some think wisdom as incarnated IS Christ or the Holy Spirit.  

  I think it's more along the lines of personification for importance's sake rather than the early writers making some sort of theological statement.  But it is so important to God who personifies wisdom that it is part of the deity.  Wisdom is something that also incarnates all of us just like the Holy Spirit.  However, no one needs faith to have wisdom.  Someone needs only a dogged nature.  Wisdom is an adventure not just a love story.  Wisdom sends you on a mission.  Wisdom must be hunted and sought-after and climbed and mounted and churned.  Wisdom is a Rocky-style montage.     

  Wisdom is the pursuit of life's delicacies.  Laughter will never be as sweet or as plentiful until enjoyed with Wisdom.  Pain will never be as sweet and sorrow never so deep as the soul who has wisdom.  And actual delicacies.  Wisdom loves the good.  Good art, food, poetry, music they are all the haunts of wisdom.

  Wisdom is the muse for them all.

  You want a great way to start a new year?  Do you have New Year's Resolutions?  What are they about? Eating right?  Here's a little gem about that from Ecclesiasticus 37:27-34

My son, in the course of your life test your constitution,

and do not allow it what you see is harmful to it;

for everything does not suit everybody,

Do Not be insatiable over any delicacy,

do not be greedy over food,

for overeating leads to sickness,

and gluttony brings on biliousness.

Many have died of gluttony;

beware of this and you will prolong your life.

   Advice I obviously need to hear and surprising for someone so long ago. (Could anyone overeat back then?)

But maybe your waistline isn't too big and you're resolved to travel...

Eccus. 34:9-11

A much traveled man knows many things,

and a man of great experience will talk sound sense.

Someone who has never had his trials knows little;

but the traveled man is master of every situation.

I have seen many things on my travels,

I have understood more than I can put into words.

Maybe you just want to get along better with your kids...

Eccus. 30:1-3

A man who loves his son will beat him frequently

so that in after years the son may be his comfort. (Don't get any ideas, Dad)

A man who is strict with his son will reap the benefit,

and be able to boast of him to his acquaintances.

A man who educates his son will be the envy of his enemy,

and will be proud of him among his friends.

Now maybe you have a problem with corporal punishment but this holy man doesn't.  Notice if you don't like this, the strictness still applies but the heavy hand of parents is just not physical.

You may point out that this was a less enlightened time and that could be true.  You may want to point out that I am not married even though Jesus son of Sira, the writer was.  Still though, I think a lot of teachers in schools today think that our schools would be a lot better if the kids were afraid of getting a spanking at home for bad grades or behavior at school.

There are other resolutions I will explore in the coming weeks and months.  I am hopeful that hearers will come from all over Judea to hear this message from one who is calling out in the wilderness.  If you have something to say, remember that thousands of instances of anecdotal evidence is real evidence.  May God bless this journey, its hearers and its...me.