Sirach 2:1-11; Ps 37(36):3-4. 18-19. 27-28. 39-40; Mark 9:30-37
We have a series of readings from Sirach this week - most people's Bibles will call Sirach's work "Wisdom" - for so it is. Monday's reading tells us that the translator into Greek was the authors' Grandson. While much of the original Hebrew text has now been found, the book in our Bibles is translated form the Greek edition. Fr Nicholas King is presently working on a new translation from the earlier Hebrew texts, which we are looking forward to (he did excellent work translating the New Testament from the oldest possible sources).
The book of Wisdom is structured in three parts and this week we have the first. The ancient Hebrew - Aramaic Law is praised, and blended with a Hellenistic view of life after death - leading to the theology of martyrdom which for example features in Christ's Passion (Mt 27:40-43).