Sirach 16:1-17: a reflection

1Don’t desire a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons. 2If they multiply, don’t delight in them unless the fear of the Lord is in them. 3Don’t trust in their life. Don’t rely on their numbers; for one can be better than a thousand, and to die childless than to have ungodly children. 4For from one who has understanding, a city will be populated, but a race of wicked men will be made desolate. 5I have seen many such things with my eyes. My ear has heard mightier things than these. 6In a congregation of sinners, a fire will be kindled. In a disobedient nation, wrath is kindled. 7He was not pacified toward the giants of old time, who revolted in their strength. 8He didn’t spare Lot’s neighbors, whom he abhorred for their pride. 9He didn’t pity the people of perdition who were taken away in their sins, 10or in like manner, the six hundred thousand footmen who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. 11Even if there is one stiff-necked person, it is a marvel if he will be unpunished; for mercy and wrath are both with him who is mighty to forgive, and he pours out wrath. 12As his mercy is great, so is his correction also. He judges a man according to his works. 13The sinner will not escape with plunder. The perseverance of the godly will not be frustrated. 14He will make room for every work of mercy. Each man will receive according to his works. 17Don’t say, “I will be hidden from the Lord,” and “Who will remember me from on high?” I will not be known among so many people, for what is my soul in a boundless creation?

This passage from Sirach reflects on God's justice, insisting that he sees and judges all, and it ends by answering a thought that can creep into the heart: Do not say, I will be hidden from the Lord; who will remember me from on high? In the crowd of so many people, what is my soul in a boundless creation? The tempting thought is that we are too small, too insignificant, too lost in the vastness of the world, to be seen or remembered by God. The passage answers: do not say this, for God sees.

Notice the thought the passage warns against: the idea that we are hidden from God because we are small. In a world of billions, in a creation so vast, it can seem that no single person could possibly be noticed, that we are lost in the crowd, hidden, forgotten, too insignificant for God to see. But this is a mistaken thought; God is not overwhelmed by numbers, nor limited in his attention. He sees each person, however small, however lost in the crowd; no one is hidden from him.

That truth cuts two ways, and both are worth holding. It is a comfort: you are not too small to be seen by God, not lost in the crowd, not forgotten in the vastness; God sees and knows you, individually, however insignificant you may feel. And it is a call to honesty: since you are not hidden from God, you cannot sin in secret, thinking he does not notice, for he sees all. Do not imagine you are too small for God to see, whether to comfort yourself in loneliness or to excuse yourself in hidden sin. You are seen and known by God, individually and fully; take comfort that you are not hidden or forgotten, and live honestly before the God from whom nothing is hidden.

Lord, this passage warns against the thought, I will be hidden from the Lord; who will remember me in so vast a creation, what is my soul among so many? It answers that you see each person, however small. Speak to me through it. In a world of billions, in a creation so vast, it can seem that no single person could be noticed, that I am lost in the crowd, hidden, forgotten, too insignificant for you to see. But this is a mistaken thought; you are not overwhelmed by numbers, nor limited in your attention. You see each person, however small; no one is hidden from you. Comfort me: I am not too small to be seen by you, not lost in the crowd, not forgotten in the vastness; you see and know me, individually and fully. And call me to honesty: since I am not hidden from you, I cannot sin in secret, thinking you do not notice, for you see all. Help me take comfort that I am not forgotten, and live honestly before you, from whom nothing is hidden.