Sirach 17:1-16: a reflection

1The Lord created mankind out of earth, and turned them back to it again. 2He gave them days by number, and a set time, and gave them authority over the things that are on it. 3He endowed them with strength proper to them, and made them according to his own image. 4He put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and birds. 6He gave them counsel, tongue, eyes, ears, and heart to have understanding. 7He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom, and showed them good and evil. 8He set his eye upon their hearts, to show them the majesty of his works. 10And they will praise his holy name, that they may declare the majesty of his works. 11He added to them knowledge, and gave them a law of life for a heritage. 12He made an everlasting covenant with them, and showed them his decrees. 13Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory. Their ears heard the glory of his voice. 14He said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.” So he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbor. 15Their ways are ever before him. They will not be hidden from his eyes.

Sirach reflects on the dignity God gave to human beings at creation. He made them from the earth and set a limit to their days, yet he clothed them with strength, gave them authority over other creatures, and, most of all, made them according to his own image. We are dust, mortal and limited, and at the same time image-bearers, crowned with a likeness to God himself.

The passage piles up the gifts: counsel, tongue, eyes, ears, and a heart to understand; knowledge of good and evil; a law of life for an inheritance; an everlasting covenant. God did not make us and leave us in the dark. He filled us with the capacity to know him and gave us his commandments so that we could live well. And he set his eye upon our hearts, watching over us to show us the majesty of his works.

Remember both halves of this today: your smallness and your dignity. You are dust, which keeps you humble, and you are made in God's image and equipped to know him, which gives your life immense worth. Use the gifts he has given, your mind, your voice, your understanding, to know him and to declare his works. Live as one who is watched over by a God who made you for himself and delights to be known by you.

Lord, you formed me from the dust and yet made me in your image, filling me with understanding and giving me your law of life. Keep me humble in my smallness and awake to the dignity you have given me. Let me use every gift, my mind, my voice, my heart, to know you and to declare your works, living each day under your watchful, loving eye. Amen.