Sirach 44:1-16: a reflection

1Let us now praise famous men, our ancestors in their generations. 2The Lord created great glory in them— his mighty power from the beginning. 3Some ruled in their kingdoms and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding. Some have spoken in prophecies, 4leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their understanding, giving instruction for the people. Their words in their instruction were wise. 5Some composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing, 6rich men endowed with ability, living peaceably in their homes. 7All these were honored in their generations, and were outstanding in their days. 8Some of them have left a name behind them, so that others declare their praises. 9But of others, there is no memory. They perished as though they had not been. They become as though they had not been born, they and their children after them. 10But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. 11A good inheritance remains with their offspring. Their children are within the covenant. 12Their offspring stand fast, with their children, for their sakes. 13Their offspring will remain forever. Their glory won’t be blotted out. 14Their bodies were buried in peace. Their name lives to all generations. 15People will declare their wisdom. The congregation proclaims their praise. 16Enoch pleased the Lord, and was taken up, an example of repentance to all generations.

This famous passage begins, let us now praise famous men, and honors the great and renowned, kings, counselors, prophets, whose names are remembered and whose praises are still declared. But then it pauses over another group, and this is where it becomes tender: of others there is no memory; they perished as though they had never existed, they and their children after them. Countless faithful people, simply forgotten by history.

And yet notice what the passage insists, even about the forgotten: these were people of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. The world may not remember their names, but their goodness is not lost. Their acts of mercy are held somewhere more lasting than human memory. What they did in love did not vanish just because no monument records their names.

There is quiet comfort here for the vast majority of us who will not be famous, whose names will fade within a generation or two. You do not have to be remembered by history for your life of mercy to matter. The world forgets most people, but God does not forget a single deed of love. Your quiet faithfulness, your acts of mercy that no one records, are not lost. Their memory is kept where it counts. Live a life of mercy, and let God be the one who remembers it.

Lord, I will not be famous, and my name will fade from human memory. But you do not forget a single deed of mercy. Free me from needing to be remembered by the world, and let me live a life of quiet faithfulness and love, content that you keep the memory that counts.