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for May 20, 2024

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05-20-2024 Sirach 47 V25 More and more grew their sinfulness

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The Book of Sirach Ch 47 v- 12-15 & 19-20

12 Because of his merits he had as successor a wise son, who lived in security: 13 SOLOMON reigned during an era of peace, for God brought rest to all his borders. He built a house to the name of God, and established a lasting sanctuary. 14 How wise you were when you were young, overflowing with instruction, like the Nile in flood! 15 Your understanding covered the whole earth, and, like a sea, filled it with knowledge. 19 But you abandoned yourself to women and gave them dominion over your body. 20 You brought a stain upon your glory, shame upon your marriage bed, Wrath upon your descendants, and groaning upon your deathbed.

King Solomon, once the epitome of wisdom and peace, ascended the throne of Israel with a promise of prosperity and knowledge. His reign began with a flourish of hope, as he governed with unparalleled wisdom, gifted by God Himself. The land thrived under his rule, and the grandeur of the First Temple in Jerusalem stood as a testament to his devotion to the Lord. However, beneath the surface of this golden age, the seeds of discord were being sown. Solomon's heart, which once beat in unison with divine statutes, began to waver as he forged political alliances through his numerous marriages to foreign princesses. These women, adorned with the exotic allure of distant lands, unwittingly became the agents of change, steering the wise king towards a path dimly lit by the flickering flames of alien altars.

The sanctity of Solomon's marriage bed, intended to be a symbol of unity and covenant, was marred by the introduction of idols and foreign deities. His wives, clinging to the traditions of their homelands, enticed the king into the worship of gods that were once foreign to the children of Israel. The incense that rose from the Temple's holy precincts now mingled with the odors of pagan sacrifices. Solomon, whose name once stood for peace, became a harbinger of spiritual infidelity, as the love that should have been reserved for the God of his father David was partitioned among the pantheons of his wives. The wisdom that had been his crown now seemed a hollow echo within the chambers where forbidden rites were observed.

This betrayal of faith brought a stain upon the house of Solomon, a tarnish no earthly wealth or splendor could obscure. The king, who had been given divine insight to rule justly and lead his people on the path of righteousness, had allowed his personal passions to eclipse his duty to his kingdom and his Creator. The once-unified nation of Israel began to fracture, with whispers of discontent rustling among the tribes as they looked upon the high places that now blotted their sacred landscape. The covenant was broken, and the consequences of Solomon's choices would reverberate through the lineage of kings that was to follow, casting long shadows over the future of the twelve tribes.

The legacy of Solomon, therefore, became a tale of light and darkness, a narrative of what happens when the wisdom of man is not anchored by steadfastness to the divine will. The peace that once flowed like a river through the streets of Jerusalem was now sullied by selfishness and sin. Let this be a reminder to us to carry on with God being lived first in every aspect of our lives chasing dreams of charity instead of seeking fame of prosperity living for Salvation. Living a life with God at the forefront is a journey marked by the pursuit of goodwill through self-sacrifice and generosity, rather than the fleeting allure of fame and material wealth. Those who choose this path prioritize the well-being of others, understanding that true prosperity lies in the act of giving and in the service to humanity.

Their dreams are not of personal glory, but of creating a ripple of charity that can swell into a tide of compassion, lifting the spirits and circumstances of the less fortunate. Their hearts are set not on earthly accolades, but on the eternal promise of Salvation, a guiding light that shapes every decision and sacrifice. This God-first approach to life transforms every action into worship, every choice into a testament to faith, and every success into a shared blessing. It's a life rich in purpose and abundant in love, where the measure of success is not in the wealth amassed but in the lives touched and the comfort brought to souls in need. Are you living that life? I pray my grandsons do. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

Practice. Pray. Proclaim. ®
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20

05-20-2024 Sirach 47 v-12-15 & 19-20

**Solomon’s Satire**

In Solomon's court, where wisdom reigned,

The air was thick with peace sustained;

His mind, a vessel of the divine,

His aroma with knowledge like fine wine.

A temple built, to skies it soared,

In Israel, their God adored;

The nations round, in awe, they stood,

At peace and prowess understood.

But hearts, they wander, as they may,

And Solomon's eye did stray away;

A myriad of loves, his bed did share,

From distant lands, with charms so rare.

With women's whispers, soft and sweet,

Came gods of stone, on foreign feet;

Altars raised, where incense burned,

To deities, his heart had turned.

Oh, wisest king, in judgment keen,

What folly now does this convene?

The one who split a child in twain,

Now fractures faith for love's brief gain.

Jerusalem, once pure and fair,

Now watches idols rise in square;

The very bed where peace was born,

Now hosts a shame, his lineage torn.

The temple's glow begins to fade,

As foreign rites are now on parade;

A covenant, once held so dear,

Is left to rust, as gods foreign appear.

The sage of sages, lost his way,

For fleshly love, his wisdom sway;

A kingdom built on sacred trust,

Now bending 'neath idolatrous lust.

O Solomon, your stain has spread,

A legacy of zeal misled;

The glory of your early days,

Eclipsed by erring, faithless ways.

The stain remains, a caution tale,

Of how the mightiest can obviously fail;

Let history recall and eternally weep,

The king who let his virtue sleep. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

May 20, 2024 @ 04:53 AM EST

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