THE WISDOM OF SIRACH - Part Four

THE PRAYER [Sir. 33- Sir. 43]

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

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Jesus Ben Sirach did not only speak to his disciples, but he also prayed for them while in their presence. He also recorded prayers about them. Together with the prayers of the saintly people of God - men and women of earlier times - these are all considered contemporary prayers for new generations. His prayers constitute a dialogue shared between him and God. They offer honor to God in anticipation of His divine care to all human beings, and they also convey the love of humankind. The desire and spirit of prayer are a gift from God. A person who desires to pray stands in the presence of God and turns to Him after relinquishing all troubling temporal matters completely. Ben Sirach presents five forms of prayer that form a unit together: 1- Worship to God who is worthy of all praise (Si 23:1; 39:35) 2- Repentance and confession of sins committed knowingly or unknowingly (36:1,17) 3- Giving thanks to God for His grace and gifts (Si.51:1) 4- Petition: in which we pray Him to answer our needs, especially that He may live and establish His Kingdom within us, and to grant us wisdom (51:17,22) 5- Intercession: It is fit that a believer, recognizing his weakness, prays on behalf of all humankind. As a member of the Church of God, he yearns that all the children of men enjoy eternal glory. The Book of the Wisdom of Sirach includes many prayers: 1-The first prayer (Si 22:27 -23:6). 2- The second prayer (Si 36:1-22). 3- The third prayer (Si 39: 12-35). 4-The fourth prayer (Si 50:22-24). 5- The fifth prayer (Si 51:1-12). 6- The sixth prayer (Si 51:13-30).