Midweek - Thursday Sermon Trinity 7

Are you angry?
Sirach 27:30-28:7 “Anger and wrath, these are abominations!”
Ephesians 4.25-end “Putting away falsehood, let everyone speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin.”
Matthew 5.20-24 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgement”.
The readings for today are particularly difficult to judge mainly because we are given a good cross section of “what to do when you are angry”. On the one hand, it is ok, as long as you don’t sin, and on the other hand the mere act of being angry is sin.
I am sure we all get angry, and in the past I have been an angry young man. As I grow old disgracefully, I find that my anger is now more akin to disappointment. You can, after all, only be angry so long, before something else comes along to take its’ place. Indeed, I believe even Our Lord himself was rather angry when the money lenders set up shop in The Temple.
I’m not sure what the right translation of ‘anger’ is, because from the readings I think we have a difficulty. The letter to the Ephesians – translated from the Greek, the anger sounds more like being indignant – caring enough to make a point, for the sake of the community. On the other hand, the Hebrew from Sirach when speaking of anger, sounds more like the uncontrollable rage that is neither productive or positive.
There is, of course a difference when you are angry because the rain is spoiling a good walk, and the anger you feel when you see people being beaten in somewhere like Zimbabwe and feel so helpless all these miles away. I am sure this is a whole study in itself.
It is right to feel angry (or should I say concerned) when something is not right, it is important to speak out about what you feel. It is another matter altogether if you start a schism or division because you just don’t like a person.
I love all these old bits of wisdom from the Bible – they really do need more translation and careful understanding.
The Wisdom of the Book of Sirach is a bit like proverbs, but not a collection of sayings, it is the hand of one author. The Book is not in the usual collection in the Bible, it is also known as Ecclesiasticus (a name given by St. Cyprian because it was read in churches). The 39 articles mentions it in Article 6, saying that the book is ok to read, but not to make any church rules about (basically). The best title for the book is the original one however “The Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Siera” (obviously not THE Jesus).
Looking at this book from thousands of years ago, I can’t help thinking how we shouldn’t get angry – because so little has changed. We are just players in a grand drama – we are dancing the waltz of time.
The teachings are applicable to all conditions of life: to parents and children, to husbands and wives, to the young, to masters, to friends, to the rich, and to the poor. Many of them are rules of courtesy and politeness; and a still greater number contain advice and instruction as to the duties of man toward himself and others, especially the poor, as well as toward society and the state, and most of all toward God. These precepts are arranged in verses, which are grouped according to their outward form. The sections are preceded by eulogies of wisdom which serve as introductions and mark the divisions into which the collection falls.
Wisdom, in Ben Sira's view, is synonymous with the fear of God and sticking to the law. They show a profound knowledge of the human heart, the disillusionment of experience, a sympathy with the poor and the oppressed, and an unconquerable distrust of women.
There are two opposing tendencies war in the author: the faith and the morality of olden times, which are stronger than all argument, and the problems of being modern.
Ben Sira attacks theories which he considers dangerous; for example, that man has no freedom of will, and that God is indifferent to the actions of mankind and does not reward virtue.
The book finishes with a sort of statement that “God knows all” and should be trusted, especially when it all gets too much for us.
I think that Sirach/The Widsom of Ben Sira/Ecclesiasticus shouldn’t be seen as a design for life, but proof of life – down the generations God’s hand has guided his people through the same concerns and worries – we are still his people, and he is still our God.
Thank God for that - AMEN