Daily Bread
Ecclesiasticus 4.20–28
Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil,
and do not be ashamed to be yourself.
For there is a shame that leads to sin,
and there is a shame that is glory and favour.
Do not show partiality, to your own harm,
or deference, to your downfall.
Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment,
and do not hide your wisdom.
For wisdom becomes known through speech,
and education through the words of the tongue.
Never speak against the truth,
but be ashamed of your ignorance.
Do not be ashamed to confess your sins,
and do not try to stop the current of a river.
Do not subject yourself to a fool,
or show partiality to a ruler.
Fight to the death for truth,
and the Lord God will fight for you.
Reflect
Today's Bible reading comes from what we call the 'wisdom literature'. There's so much in these eight verses, but I wonder, if like me, there is one that jumps out at you? Perhaps, if there is, then meditate on it? Why does it speak to you? How does it make you feel?
The first one that jumped out to me was, 'Do not be ashamed to be yourself.'
The subject of identity is complex. For many in our western culture, our identity comes from the job that we do. How many times, when meeting someone new, do we ask, "So, what line of work are you in?' as if that defines a person! In first century Palestine, a person was defined by who their father was — hence the emphasis on Jesus being the 'son' of God, however, our identities are much more complex than the job we do or our our parental lineage. I remember reading The Little Prince (one of my favourite books) and this paragraph always stuck with me:
"Grown-ups like numbers. When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask questions about what really matters. They never ask: ‘What does his voice sound like?’ ‘What games does he like best?’ ‘Does he collect butterflies?’ They ask: ‘How old is he?’ ‘How many brothers does he have?’ ‘How much does he weigh?’ ‘How much money does he have?’ Only then do they think they know him."
What truly makes a person?
This week, when you meet someone for the first time, perhaps ask them something different about themselves and see how they react, oh, and remember to be yourself — your true self — the wonderful person God created you to be.
Pray
Holy God
Thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Today, help me to be my true self
and to be the person you created me to be.
Let me feel no shame about any aspect of my
physicality, emotions, intellect, or spirituality,
but help be both see myself and others as you see us,
for we are your precious and beloved children.
Help us to remember that you fight for us.