THE WISDOM OF SIRACH - Part Three

Unrestrained Youth & Women [Sir. 23- Sir. 32]

By: Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty, Bishoy Boshra Behnam

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Inspired from Sirach- Chapter 23: HAVE MERCY O, MY FATHER, FROM MY WISDOM! - To You, I complain of myself, O Lord, the Father of my life, and my Master. May Your will be fulfilled in my life, and may my careless judgments be crucified. Who else can correct my careless thoughts and scourge them with a whip? I trust no one other than You to correct me. For You are my heavenly and merciful Father, You are Almighty, and You know all my depths! Your firm yet loving lashes demolish the pride of my haughty eyes, To You alone belongs the power to root out my evil lusts and greed, as well as all corruption. - Support me and set a security guard over my tongue. Forbid any words of insult or pride or rash vows to proceed from my mouth; And forbid my dirty mouth from being careless, and therefore from swearing by Your Name, O, You, the only One who is Holy! Words of blasphemy attack and attempt to occupy my mouth, and death are shepherded in. Let me behave as Your son, and prevent any inappropriate or unbecoming word from my mouth! - Extinguish the fires of evil desires so that they do not burn me and eradicate me. All souls, no matter how corrupt they are, realize that desires are evil. Its pleasure may last for minutes, and then the soul disgusts it. But as it clings to the human heart and mind, it strikes its roots deep inside and thinks that it set up its kingdom there inside. Who can cast it out of its throne?! You alone, O Holy One, shine with Your righteousness and dissipate the darkness of sinful desires! Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty