Fr. Daoud Lamei - Summary

Introduction

• Poetic Books of Wisdom 
  • How to live with God and in the world
  • Gives us wisdom in the knowledge of God
• Joshua son of Sirach is from the generations that are near to the Lord (i.e. approx 200 years before Christ) - originally in Hebrew but was immediately translated to Greek in the Septuagint
• Canonical Book
• Read from a lot in the Great Lent Lectionary
• St Athanasius, Origen, St Clement all quoted extensively from the Book of Sirach
• 51 Chapters
  • 1-44: Talking about Wisdom and Virtue
    • Fear of God, Humility, Love of others, Honoring parents, Having mercy
    • Also the opposite
  • 44-50: Veneration of the Biblical Characters (Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Josiah, Nehemiah, etc.)
  • 51: Prayer of Joshua Son of Sirach

Headlines

• Chapter 2
  • My son, if you draw near to serve the Lord, Prepare your soul for temptation. 
    • The devil likes to attack those who serve more than others, because of his jealousy
  • Set your heart right and be steadfast, And do not strive anxiously in distress