What is a human being, what purpose does he serve?
What is good and what is bad for him?
The length of his life; a hundred years at most.
Like a drop of water from the sea, or a grain of sand,
such are these few years compared with eternity.
This is why the Lord is patient with them.
He sees and recognizes how wretched their end is,
and so makes his forgiveness the greater.
Human compassion extends to neighbors,
but the Lord’s compassion extends to everyone;
rebuking, correcting and teaching,
brining them back as a shepherd brings his flock.
He has compassion on those who accept correction,
and who fervently search for his judgments.
Ecclesiasticus 18:8-14
My child, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal.
Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disater comes.
Cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be honored at the end of your days.
Whatever happens to you accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient, since gold is tested in the fire, and the chosen in the furnace of humiliation.
Ecclesiasticus 2:1-5
