Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)

For: Wednesday, November 11, 2009

32nd Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial: St Martin of Tours, Bishop

From: Wisdom 6:1-11

Exhortation to rulers
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[1]  Listen, therefore, O kings, and understand;
      learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.
[2]  Give ear, you that rule over multitudes,
      and boast of many nations.
[3]  For your dominion was given you from the Lord,
      and your sovereignty from the Most High,
      who will search out your works and inquire into your plans.
[4]  Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly,
      not keep the law.
      nor walk according to the purpose of God,
[5]  he will come upon you terribly and swiftly,
      because severe judgment falls on those in high places.
[6]  For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy,
      but mighty men will be mightily tested.
[7]  For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one, 
      nor show deference to greatness;
      because he himself made both small and great,
      and he takes thought for all alike.
[8]  But a strict inquiry is in story for the mighty.
[9]  To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed,
       that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.
[10] For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness,
       and those who have been taught them will find a defence.
[11] Therefore set your desire on my words;
       long for them, and you will be instructed.

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Commentary: 

6:1-11. God will be particularly severe with kings and rulers when he judges
them; and there can be no appeal. His scrutiny will extend beyond their doings,
into their most hidden thoughts. But to the lowly he will be kind. This is an idea
we find in the song of Hannah, the mother of Samuel (cf. 1 Sam 2:4, 8-10), and
in the Magnificat of our Lady (cf. Lk 1:51-53): God will exalt the lowly and the
"poor", those who cannot raise themselves up, but who trust in God; but he will
topple the "mighty" and the proud. It is a divine paradox, which seems to invert
human values (cf. Phil 2:6-11).

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Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries".  Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.  We encourage readers to purchase
The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter Publishers for details.

"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."  --  St Jerome

"The Father uttered one Word; that Word is His Son, and He utters Him forever
in everlasting silence: and in silence the soul has to hear it.
   --  St John of the Cross