In the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time, the first readings shift to meditations from the Book of Sirach on wisdom and on the mysterious Wisdom that is God, spoken in gentle but firm parlance of a parent passing on advice to a child, especially one going through transitions in growth or into adulthood. In the Gospel, Jesus reveals to his friends and the crowds about what it means to be fully human, which is to embrace the joy of emptying oneself of the pretenses of status caused by well-meaning but distracting ambition.

Right away, we are faced with the rather uncomfortable prospect of surrendering to God.

Fear and dread she brings upon him
and tries him with her discipline
until she try him by her laws and trust his soul.
Then she comes back to bring him happiness
and reveal her secrets to them
and she will heap upon him
treasures of knowledge and an understanding of justice.

Here are the readings for Wednesday, February 26 from the Book of Sirach and from the Gospel of Mark.

(Mosaic above of “Jesus’ Seventy Disciples”)

Read pages 22 and 23 of the Xaverian Charism Project of the Xaverian Brothers.

Read the biography of Br. James Eckert, CFX.

(Above photo of Brother James Eckert, CFX-Xaverian Brothers)

1. The Book of Sirach explores the mysteries of conversion. What causes us to turn towards God, and remain in this pursuit? What do we turn away from when we turn towards God, and why can this be so uncomfortable, even over time?
2. Reflect on Ryken’s account of his own conversion in the Xaverian Charism project. How does it emphasize that our encounters with the transcendent are not necessarily how we picture transformations to be?
3. How did Brother James Eckert demonstrate that an “ordinary” life with little fanfare or prestige could be a joyful one?