Sirach 49:1-16: a reflection

1The memory of Josiah is like the composition of incense prepared by the work of the perfumer. It will be sweet as honey in every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine. 2He did what was right in the reforming of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity. 3He set his heart right toward the Lord. In lawless days, he made godliness prevail. 4Except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, all were wicked, because they abandoned the law of the Most High. The kings of Judah came to an end. 5They gave their power to others, and their glory to a foreign nation. 6They set the chosen city of the sanctuary on fire and made her streets desolate, as it was written by the hand of Jeremiah. 7For they mistreated him; yet he was sanctified in the womb to be a prophet, to root out, to afflict, to destroy and likewise to build and to plant. 8Ezekiel saw the vision of glory, which God showed him on the chariot of the cherubim. 9For truly he remembered the enemies in rainstorm, and to do good to those who directed their ways aright. 10Also of the twelve prophets, may their bones flourish again out of their place. He comforted the people of Jacob, and delivered them by confident hope. 11How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand. 12So was Jesus the son of Josedek, who in their days built the house, and exalted a people holy to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory. 13Also of Nehemiah the memory is great. He raised up for us fallen walls, set up the gates and bars, and rebuilt our houses. 14No man was created upon the earth like Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth. 15Nor was there a man born like Joseph, a leader of his kindred, a supporter of the people. Even his bones were cared for. 16Shem and Seth were honored among men, but above every living thing in the creation was Adam.

This passage remembers the faithful of old, and it begins with a striking image: The memory of Josiah is like sweet incense, sweet as honey in every mouth. Josiah, and the other faithful ones the passage recalls, left behind a good and fragrant memory; their faithful lives are remembered with sweetness and honor, a blessing to those who recall them. Their memory is fragrant because their lives were faithful; a good life leaves a good memory.

Notice the image: the memory of the faithful is like sweet incense. The faithful ones the passage recalls left behind memories that are sweet, fragrant, honored, a blessing to those who remember them. This is the fruit of a faithful life: not only the good done in the living of it, but the good and fragrant memory left behind, which continues to bless and encourage those who recall it. A faithful life leaves a sweet memory; an unfaithful one leaves a different legacy.

That points to something worth considering: the kind of memory our lives will leave behind. We will all leave a memory when we are gone; and the kind of memory we leave depends on how we live. A faithful life, like Josiah's, leaves a good and fragrant memory, a blessing to those who recall it; an unfaithful life leaves a different, poorer legacy. Consider the memory your life will leave behind, and live so as to leave a good and fragrant one. Do not live only for the present, without thought for the memory you will leave; live faithfully, so that your memory, like Josiah's, is sweet and honored, a blessing to those who recall it. The faithful leave a fragrant memory; live so as to leave one, that those who remember you may be blessed and encouraged by the faithfulness of your life, as we are blessed by the memory of the faithful of old.

Lord, this passage remembers the faithful of old, beginning with a striking image: the memory of Josiah is like sweet incense, sweet as honey in every mouth; the faithful ones left behind good and fragrant memories, a blessing to those who recall them. Show me that image: the memory of the faithful is like sweet incense, the fruit of a faithful life, blessing and encouraging those who remember it. Let it lead me to consider the kind of memory my life will leave behind. I will leave a memory when I am gone; and the kind of memory I leave depends on how I live. A faithful life, like Josiah's, leaves a good and fragrant memory; an unfaithful life leaves a poorer legacy. Help me consider the memory my life will leave, and live so as to leave a good and fragrant one. Keep me from living only for the present, without thought for the memory I will leave; help me live faithfully, so that my memory, like Josiah's, is sweet and honored, a blessing to those who recall it. The faithful leave a fragrant memory; help me live so as to leave one, Lord, that those who remember me may be blessed and encouraged by the faithfulness of my life, as I am blessed by the memory of the faithful of old. Help me live faithfully, and leave a good memory.