21 February 2023 - Tuesday of the 7th week of Ordinary Time - Sirach 2:1-11

      Today, we hear from Sirach at Daily Mass the day before we start Ash Wednesday and the holy season of Lent. We are perhaps not too familiar with the book of Sirach, but this book of the Old Testament contains great wisdom and advice that is still relevant for us today.  With the endearing salutation, “my son" that begins our passage today, we know that Sirach is going to give us some intimate advice. It is also a typical opening in Jewish wisdom literature. So, what can we take from today’s reading?  Sirach advises us that serving God doesn’t mean that our lives will be without trials and tribulations.  However, even in those trials and sufferings, we are called to serve with sincerity, generosity, and perseverance. Our trials and tribulations will help purify our faith.  In everything, we are called to be faithful and to trust in God.  

      Today’s reading from Sirach brought to my mind a post that I made on the pilgrims’ forum for the Way of St James in Spain several years ago. This is a hike where we pilgrims travel an average of 15 to 18 miles a day on foot through some rather hilly and mountainous terrain in Spain. Sometimes, we hike in bad weather.  Most of the time, we get blisters and have sore feet. A pilgrim wrote that she had been hiking on the Camino for one week and was wanting to give up and go home. She asked if any of us pilgrims had felt the same way, wanting to know how to deal with such feelings. I wrote the following response: “There were days when I have been discouraged on the Camino too. There have been days when my plans on the Camino were thrown into disarray. When I reflect on the Camino (and I have been on the Camino five different times from 2003 to 2017), it is through the struggles and the unexpected things that have happened to me that I have found the greatest blessings. I was struggling with a lot in my life when I went on the Camino in January 2017. I had a lot of struggles on the Camino as well - I hurt my leg (actually, I developed a very painful crack in my tibia), I was vomiting for several days, and afterwards never got back to a normal routine of eating for the rest of the Camino. However, through those struggles, I received a lot of wisdom and knowledge from the Camino. My Camino experiences really helped me examine my life. They have brought me a lot of peace. Sometimes we don't get the Camino we expect or want; sometimes we get the Camino we need, even if that Camino isn't easy. Ultimately, it is our decision whether to continue on the Camino or not. I truly believe that there is not a ‘right’ way or ‘wrong’ way to follow the Camino. We are called to follow God’s will for us.  We are called to follow our hearts.  We are called to persevere.”