GLADNESS OF THE HEART
Sirach 30:21-24
Do not give yourself over to sorrow,
And do not distress yourself deliberately.
Gladness of the heart is the life of man,
And rejoicing by a man lengthens his life.
Love your soul and comfort your heart,
And put sorrow far away from you;
For sorrow has destroyed many,
And there is no profit in it.
Envy and anger will shorten your days,
And worry will bring premature old age.
Encouraging Words
We live in a world that is full of sadness and despair. Natural disasters are wreaking havoc on many innocent people. Wars and skirmishes are in full swing across the globe. Political systems and nations are quickly moving into fascism and authoritarianism. And yet, we each have the capability, and responsibility to control our own internal destiny. Sirach guides us to pursue a life of joy and peace. We can choose to not give ourselves over to sorrow. We must not distress ourselves deliberately. We can embrace a gladness in our hearts that will give us life and extend our days. We can love our soul and comfort our heart by putting sorrow far away. We can do all this through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Glory be to God!
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