My Sabbath - With Sirach

"The leader of his brothers and the pride of his people was the high priest, Simon son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house, and in his time fortified the temple.

When he put on his glorious robe and clothed himself in perfect splendour, when he went up to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.  When he received the portions from the hands of the priests, as he stood by the hearth of the altar with a garland of brothers around him, he was like a young cedar on Lebanon surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.  All the sons of Aaron in their splendour held the Lord’s offering in their hands before the whole congregation of Israel. 

Finishing the service at the altars, and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty, he held out his hand for the cup and poured a drink-offering of the blood of the grape; he poured it out at the foot of the altar, a pleasing odour to

the Most High, the king of all.

Then the sons of Aaron shouted; they blew their trumpets of hammered metal; they sounded a mighty fanfare as a reminder before the Most High. Then all the people together quickly fell to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.

Then the singers praised him with their voices in sweet and full-toned melody.  And the people of the Lord Most High offered their prayers before the Merciful One,

until the order of worship of the Lord was ended, and they completed his ritual.

Then Simon came down and raised his hands over the whole congregation of Israelites, to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name; and they bowed down in worship a second time, to receive the blessing from the Most High.

And now bless the God of all, who everywhere works great wonders, who fosters our growth from birth, and deals with us according to his mercy. May he give us gladness of heart, and may there be peace in our days in Israel, as in the days of old. 

May he entrust to us his mercy,

and may he deliver us in our days!" 

Sirach 50:1,11-24

I have studied the Old Testament and the New Testament - I have never really read more than bits and pieces of the Apocrypha.  Sirach is a new discovery to me and it has been wondrous.  The past few weeks my readings have been a combination of Sirach and Revelation and WOW!  Sirach talks about practical ways of following Jesus example:  don't gossip, don't slander, tithe with joy not grudgingly, etc.  Then follow it up with the imagery of Revelation and what is to come...

This portion of Sirach reminds me of Anglican and Episcopal worship today.  The beauty, the intention, the prayerful peace of giving back to God what He has given us and blessing it for us.  This particular passage reminds me of the Offering and Eucharist, the Blessing and Sending.  Part of the deacon's role in liturgy is presenting the gifts of the people to God and the gifts of God to the people.  The give and take of abundant blessing.  Deacons also get to do the Sending.

"Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.  Alleluia.  Alleluia."

"Thanks be to God."  Alleluia.  Alleluia."