Bible Verse of the Week: Isaiah 49:15: Interpretation From Two Catholic Commentaries

Bible Verse of the Week

“Can a woman forget her baby, Or disown the child of her womb? Though she might forget, I never could forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15 jps)

 

The following are two Catholic commentaries on Isaiah 49:15 from The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries by the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain and Old Testament Prophets – Isaiah by Fr William Most, available, for free, online at http://www.ewtn.com/library/SCRIPTUR/ISAIAH2.TXT

The Navarre Bible Commentary

49:15-16. The image of the mother who can never forget her children (v. 15) is one of the most beautiful metaphors used in the Bible to describe the love that God has for his people; it has been echoed by spiritual writers down the ages. Pope John Paul II applies it with reference to the merciful love that God shows his own–the “rahamin” in Hebrew, a word that derives from maternal love (“rehem” means motherly embrace). Like a mother, God has borne mankind, and especially the chosen people, in his womb; he has given birth to it in pain, has nourished and consoled it (cf. 42:14; 46:3-4): “From the deep and original bond– indeed the unity–that links a mother to her child there springs a particular relationship to the child, a particular love. Of this love one can say that it is completely gratuitous, not merited, and that in this aspect it constitutes an interior necessity: an exigency of the heart. It is, as it were, a ‘feminine’ variation of the masculine fidelity: to self expressed by “hesed”. Against this psychological background, “rahamin” generates a whole range of feelings, including goodness and tenderness, patience and understanding, that is, readiness to forgive. […]

This love, faithful and invincible thanks to the mysterious power of motherhood, is expressed in the Old Testament texts in various ways: as salvation from dangers, especially from enemies; also as. forgiveness of sins–of individuals and also of the whole of Israel; and finally in readiness to fulfill the (eschatological) promise and hope in spite of human infidelity” (“Dives In Misericordia“, note 52; cf. “Mulieris Dignitatem“, 8).ⁱ

Old Testament Prophets – Isaiah 

Now, beginning at v. 14, Isaiah visualizes the people actually back in Jerusalem. First for contrast he paints the picture of Jerusalem during the time of exile. The people complain that the Lord has forsaken them. He replies: Sooner could a mother forget her own child. We think of the lament of Our Lord over Jerusalem in Mt 23:27 where He says He wanted to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks, but they refused. St. Augustine makes a fine remark that the hen is the most motherly of animals. Even when the chicks are not following her, one can still see that she is a mother.ⁱⁱ

i“The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

iiTract on John, 15

The Quran Verse of the Week: Quran 19:64: A Shia Tafsir on Quran 19:64

The Quran Verse of the Week

[Gabriel said],‘We only descend [with revelation] at your Lord’s command––everything before us, everything behind us, everything in between, all belongs to Him––your Lord is never forgetful. (19:64)

In this post we are going to take a look at the interpretation from a Shia tafsir. The following is from An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Quran vol. 9 by Ayatullah Allamah Al-Hajj Sayyid Kamal Faqhih Imani. This commentary is freely avaliable online at, https://www.al-islam.org/enlightening-commentary-light-holy-quran-vol-9

Occasions of Revelation

Upon the preceding verse, a group of commentators have said that the descent of the revelations of Allah was discontinued for a few days, Gabriel, the harbinger of divine revelation, did not come to the Prophet (S). After this period, when Gabriel came to the Prophet (S) he asked him why he delayed and he (the Prophet) was anxious to see him.

Gabriel said:

“I am more anxious (to see you), but I am a commissioned servant. When I am commanded to come, I come; and when I am not commanded, I restrain (to come).”ⁱ

For these verses, of course, there is a particular occasion of revelation, which was referred to in the above, but this matter does not hinder that there be a logical connection and relation between them and the former verses. This is an emphasis on the fact that whatever verses Gabriel has brought are utterly from the side of Allah and nothing is said from himself. The first verse, from the tongue of the harbinger of revelation, says: “And we (angels) do not descend but by the command of your Lord…” Every thing belongs to Him and we (angels) are some servants all submitted, because: “…to Him belongs whatever is before us and whatever is behind us and whatever is between these (two)!…” In short, the future and the past and present, here and there and everywhere, this world and Hereafter and the intermediate world all belong to the Pure Essence of Allah.And, you should also do know that your Lord has not been, and is not, forgetful. The verse says: “…And your Lord is not forgetful.”

i The Commentary of Qurtabi, vol. 6, p.4168, and Majma‘-ul-Bayan

Bible Verse of the Week: Isaiah 49:15: Midrash Pesikta Rabbati

Bible Verse of the Week

“Can a woman forget her baby, Or disown the child of her womb? Though she might forget, I never could forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15 jps)

The following commentary on Isaiah 49:15 is from the Midrash Pesikta Rabbati. The translation used here is from The Jerusalem Anthology Translated by Rabbi Mike Feuer, freely available on http://www.sefaria.org/texts

…Teach us oh, teacher: once the Ninth of Av has ended, is everything permitted? R’ Chiyah the Great taught like this: once the Ninth of Av has ended, one is permitted to do anything. Why? Because it is like the case of a person whose dead is laid out before him, who is forbidden to eat meat or drink wine. Once the dead is buried, the mourner is permitted to do so. So to on the Ninth of Av one is a mourner – once the day has ended one is permitted to do anything. Even though we are permitted, we must always have a sigh in our hearts until the Holy One returns to her. The Holy One said to them: by your lives! I burnt her, as it says “From above He has hurled fire into my bones…” (Lamentations 1:13) I will build her, as it says “Yet again will I rebuild you, then you shall be built, O virgin of Israel…” (Jeremiah 31:3) Zion said to Him: Behold, I have been sitting thus for many years! I have counted the days from old and I have not been redeemed, therefore I have despaired. She said that my master has abandoned me. And from where do we learn that Zion said this? From that which is written regarding it “And Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.’” (Isaiah 49:14)… Another explanation. “And Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me…” (Isaiah 49:14) What is written before this? “Sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, and mountains burst out in song, for the Lord has consoled His people, and He shall have mercy on His poor.” (Isaiah 49:13) Once Zion saw that the prophet recalled His people and His poor, but did not mention Zion or Jerusalem she said ‘the Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.’ Immediately the Holy One replied and said to her: just as it is impossible for a woman to forget her sucking child, so to I am not able to forget you, “Shall a woman forget her sucking child, from having mercy on the child of her womb?” (Isaiah 49:15) She said to Him: Master of the world! How is that possible? There is no end to the evils I have done! I caused Your Holy Temple to be destroyed and I killed the prophets. R’ Berachia the Kohen said in the name of Rebbe: the Holy One said to her, I will forget your evil but I will not forget your good. “…These too shall forget, but I will not forget you.” (ibid.) I have forgotten “”These are your gods, O Israel…” (Exodus 32:4) but “I am the Lord, your God…” (Exodus 20:2) I will not forget.ⁱ

iPesikta Rabbati 32

The Quran Verse of the Week: Quran 19:64: Sunni Tafsirs On Quran 19:64

The Quran Verse of the Week

[Gabriel said],‘We only descend [with revelation] at your Lord’s command––everything before us, everything behind us, everything in between, all belongs to Him––your Lord is never forgetful. (19:64)

After looking up the reason for revelation, (ideally) the larger history surrounding the time in which the verse was revealed, related Quran verses, and ahadith, we are now ready to turn our attention to what some of the great masters of tafsir have to say about this verse.

In this post we are going to take a look at the interpretations of two classic Sunni tafsirs, Tafsir al-Jalalayn and The Tafsir of Ibn Abbas.

The following are taken from Tafsir al-Jalalayn translated by Feras Hamza and Tafsir of Ibn Abbas translated by Mokrane Guezzou, respectively. Both of these can be found online, for free, at http://www.altafsir.com/

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

When the Revelation did not come for a number of days, the Prophet (s) said to Gabriel, ‘What prevents you from visiting us more often than you do?’ and so the following was revealed: And We do not descend except by the commandment of your Lord. To Him belongs all that is before us, namely, ahead of us, of the affairs of the Hereafter, and all that is behind us, of the affairs of this world, and all that is between those [two], namely, all that takes place from this [point in] time until the coming of the Hour, in other words, to Him belongs knowledge of all of those things. And your Lord is never forgetful, meaning that He is never neglectful of you [even] when the Revelation is postponed from [being sent to] you.ⁱ

Tafsir of Ibn Abbas

(We (angels) come not down) from heaven (save by commandment of thy Lord) O Muhammad. Gabriel said this when Allah withheld the revelation from him for a while after being asked by the Quraysh about the spirit, the two-horned (Dhu’l-Qarnayn) and the people of the Cave. (Unto Him belongs all that is before us) of the matter of the Hereafter (and all that is behind us) of the matter of this worldly life (and all that is between those two) between the two blowings of the Trumpet, (and your Lord was never forgetful) your Lord has not forgotten you since He first sent you the Revelation.ⁱⁱ

iTafsir al-Jalalayn translated by Hamza 19:64

iiTafsir of Ibn Abbas translated by Guezzou 19:64

Bible Verse of the Week: Isaiah 49:15: A Coptic Orthodox Christian Commentary On Isaiah

Bible Verse of the Week

“Can a woman forget her baby, Or disown the child of her womb? Though she might forget, I never could forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15 jps)

The following is a Coptic Orthodox Christian Commentary on Isaiah 49:15 from The Book of Isaiah: A Patristic Commentary by Father Tadros Yacoub Malatyⁱ

There is no doubt that motherhood is considered, of the highest levels of human love; the mother who carries her child as a fetus in her womb for months would never forget him or her after birth. And yet, some mothers have done that, and offered their children as human sacrifices, casting them in fire, as a kind of worship to the god Baal. In certain famines we heard of mothers who ate up their children, and we still hear nowadays of crimes committed by mothers against their children, and of parents killing the souls and personalities of their kids, through the dark family atmosphere, or by the familial tragedies as separation and divorce!

Some fathers and mothers do not have any compassion on the new generations, nor taking them into account in their lives; but, in selfishness, they act at the expense of their kids’ lives and their spiritual, psychological, social, and even material peace.

A mother may forget the baby at her breast, but God will never forget us!

# God’s care and love, demonstrated through His goodness, He finds nothing better to compare to, than a mother’s heart full of love and compassion. As he wants to liken God’s love to human emotions, he found no other love among His creation better than this to compare with.ⁱⁱ

# He does not just care for us, but loves us with no limits, a flaring unquenchable holy love, and a truly unbreakable strong love.

# The prophet responds to those who got depressed and moaned: “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me,” by saying, “can a mother forget the baby at her breast, and have no compassion on the child she has borne?”

If it is not possible for a mother to forget her baby, it is much more so with God, who can never forget humanity. He does not mean to compare God’s love to mother’s love for her baby, as God’s love is definitely greater; that is why he says, “Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.”ⁱⁱⁱ

See how God’s love surpasses mothers’ love?

The Lord of prophets and the Master of all confirms that His love is stronger than that of a father toward his children… Listen to what He says, “What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him”^iv

Like the difference between good and evil, so God’s love is far stronger than feelings of parents toward their children.^v

There are other examples, as the love of the lover to his beloved, but God’s love is not equal to this kind of love.^vi

iPgs 360-361

iiAbbot Sheramon, Cassian: Conf. 13:17.

iiiIsaiah 49:15

ivMatthew 7:9-11

v, St. John Chrysostom, On Providence. 6.

viPsalms 103:11

The Quran Verse of the Week: Quran 19:64: Tafsir By Ahadith

The Quran Verse of the Week

[Gabriel said],‘We only descend [with revelation] at your Lord’s command––everything before us, everything behind us, everything in between, all belongs to Him––your Lord is never forgetful. (19:64)

What are Ahadith?

The ahadith are a collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad that, with accounts of his daily practice (the Sunna), constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Quran. There are many different collections of ahadith and many of the major traditions in Islam have their own collections. In Sunni Islam the most important collection is that of Imam Al-Bukhari, while in Shia Islam it is Al-Kafi. It is not completely segregated however, as some Shia Muslims, such as the Zaidi, in addition to using their own collections, also use Sunni collections as well.ⁱ The Shia ahadith are like their Sunni counterparts, except that in addition to the words of the Prophet, they contain the sayings of his house as well. All groups that identify as Muslims accept ahadith, in some form, except for the Quranists (Also known as Quran alone Muslims and Hadith Rejectors).

Tafsir of Quran 19:64 by some Ahadith

[Note: I make no claim to authenticity (or lack thereof) in regards to the following ahadith]

(It has been narrated) from Amir-ul-Momineen – in a Hadeeth regarding the answer to the doubt – said: ‘And as for His Words [19:64] and your Lord was not forgetful, so our Lord Blessed and High is Higher and Greater, is not One with the forgetfulness, nor negligence, but He is the Knowledgeable Protector. And the Arabs are saying with regards to the matter of the forgetfulness, ‘So and so has forgotten us, so he does not remember us’; i.e., he does not order us any good, nor does he remembers us by it’.ⁱⁱ

‘I asked Al-Reza Ali Bin Musa about the Words of Allah Mighty and Majestic [9:67] They have forgotten Allah; so He has forgotten them. So he said: ‘Allah Blessed and High, neither forgets nor does He slip, but rather it is the creatures who forget and have slip of mind. Have you not heard the Mighty and Majestic [19:64] and your Lord is not forgetful? But rather, He Recompenses the one who forgets Him and forgets his meeting Him on the Day (of Judgement) by Making them forget themselves, just as the Mighty and Majestic Said [59:19] And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget their own souls: these it is that are the transgressors, and the Words of the Mighty and Majestic [7:51] That day shall We Forget them as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs’.ⁱⁱⁱ

iArticle by Sayyid ‘Ali ibn ‘Ali Al-Zaidi, A short History of the Yemenite Shi‘ites (2005).

iiTafsir Hub Ali 19:64

iiiIbid.

Bible Verse of the Week: Isaiah 49:15: A Midrash on Isaiah 49:15

Bible Verse of the Week

“Can a woman forget her baby, Or disown the child of her womb? Though she might forget, I never could forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15 jps)

What Are Midrashim?

Midrashim are the plural form of Midrash. A midrash is a “genre of rabbinic literature which contains anthologies and compilations of homilies, including both the exegesis of Torah texts and homiletic stories and sermons as well as aggadot (Jewish narrative writings that interpret the non-legal portions of the Torah) and occasionally even halakhot (A collection of Jewish interpretations and applications of the Mosaic Law), which usually form a running commentary on specific passages in the Tanakh.”ⁱ

A Midrash on Isaiah 49:15

And Zion said, the Lord has forsaken and forgotten me. (Is. 49, 14.) Is not forsaken and forgotten the same thing? Resh Lakish said: “The Congregation of Israel pleaded before the Holy One, praised be He! saying: ‘Sovereign of the universe! Even a man who marries a second wife still bears in his mind the merits of the first, but You Lord has forgotten me!’ ‘My daughter,’ replied The Holy One, blessed be He! I have created twelve stations in the heavens, and for each station I have created thirty legions [of stars], each legion contains thirty routes, each route thirty cohorts, each cohort has thirty camps and in each camp has been suspended three hundred and sixty-five thousand myriads of stars, equal to the number of days in the year; all these have I created for your sake, and yet you say you are forsaken and forgotten.’ Can a woman forget the suckling child so that she shall not have compassion on the son of her womb? (Ib. ib.) The Holy One, praised be He! said: ‘Can I then forget the burnt offering of the rams and of the first-born which you had offered me, while you were in the desert?’ Then again [the congregation of Israel] pleaded before the Holy One, praised be He! ‘Sovereign of the universe! Since there is no forgetfulness before the throne of Your Divine Majesty, then You may also not forget the incident of the golden calf?’ The Lord said: ‘This can also be forgotten.’ (Ib.) Again she pleaded saying: ‘Sovereign of the universe! Since there is forgetfulness before Your exalted throne, then You may forget the Sinai affair, also?’ ‘Yet would I not forget you,’ (Ib.) replied the Lord.” Thus we understand what R. Elazar, in the name of R. Oshia said: “This also can be forgotten (Ib.) refers to the golden calf; And yet would I not forget you, refers to the Sinai event.” ⁱⁱ

i ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, Second Edition, Volume 14, pg 182, Moshe David Herr

iiEin Yaakov (En Jacob), Berakhot 5:8 , Glick Edition

The Quran Verse of the Week: Quran 19:64: Tafsir of the Quran by the Quran

The Quran Verse of the Week

[Gabriel said],‘We only descend [with revelation] at your Lord’s command––everything before us, everything behind us, everything in between, all belongs to Him––your Lord is never forgetful. (19:64)

[Note continuing from yesterday’s post, normally, when doing tafsir, my next preferred step after finding the reason(s) for revelation for a verse is to use said reason(s) to locate it in a greater historical context. Unfortunately I am unable to locate the incident given in the Asbab Al-Nuzul literature in any of the major biographies of the Prophet, such as Ibn Ishaq’s, Tabari’s, or Ibn Saad’s. So for this week we will skip to the next step, and jump straight into tafsir.]

The Most Authoritative Form of Tafsir: Tafsir of the Quran by the Quran

Quite often themes and ideas are repeated in the Quran. This method of tafsir takes advantage of this and uses one occurrence of an idea or theme in one place to further elaborate on its mention in another verse. To put it another way:

“The best way to interpret the Qur’ān is by the Qur’ān. For what is elliptical (ujmila) in one place is explained more fully in another and what is in summary form in one place is expounded in another.”

–Ibn Taymiyya, Muqaddima, 93a

Some General Examples of Tafsir of the Quran by the Quran

Example 1. When Was The Quran Sent Down?

“truly We sent it [the Quran] down on a blessed night––We have always sent warnings––“ (44:3)

This verse talks about the sending of the Quran, but what night exactly is the blessed night that it was sent down?

Verse 97:1 has the answer: “We sent it down on the Night of Glory.” (97:1)

From these two verse we can conclude that the Quran was sent down on the blessed Lailat al-Qadr (translated above as the Night of Glory).

Example 2. How Severe are Hardships?

“Do you suppose that you will enter the Garden without first having suffered like those before you? They were afflicted by misfortune and hardship, and they were so shaken that even [their] messenger and the believers with him cried, ‘When will God’s help arrive?’ Truly, God’s help is near.” (2:214)

This verse was revealed about the Battle of the Trench and the hardships faced by the Muslims then. From this incident it puts forth the notion that life, even for, no, especially for the righteous is filled with hardships and tests. How bad can this suffering get? According to this verse so bad that even the people’s messenger cried out. But exactly how bad is this?

Verse 2:286 offers an answer: “God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear: each gains whatever good it has done, and suffers its bad” (2:286)

Interpreting these verses together we can reach the following comforting conclusion: We are going to suffer in this life, if we hope to reach the Garden. Even those closest to God, the prophets suffered, so if it is true for them it is more so true for us. Even with this however, God tells us that though we may face trials, it will not be more than we can handle, and even then God’s help is near.

Tafsir of Quran 19:64 by the Quran

“your Lord has not forsaken you [Prophet], nor does He hate you,” (93:3)

In this verse we can see that the Prophet, like in verse 19:64, is troubled by an extended pause in revelation. Interpreting these verses through one another we can come to the conclusion that the revelation only comes when God is ready to send it, and though it may take a long time, it does not mean He had forgotten, forsaken, or that He hated the Prophet.

“‘those who took their religion for distraction, a mere game, and were deluded by worldly life.’ Today We shall ignore them, just as they have ignored their meeting with this Day and denied Our Revelations.” (7:51)

In this verse, God is talking about ignoring people, as they had ignored Him previously. Interpreting this verse through 19:64, we can deduce that on the Day of Judgement, God will ignore those people for what they had done. To those people it may seem like God has forgotten them, as the ignored may sometimes believe is the case with the one who ignores, yet God reminds them in 19:64, “Your Lord is never forgetful.”

“Moses said, ‘My Lord alone has knowledge of them, all in a record; my Lord does not err or forget.’” (20:52)

In this verse Moses expands on the idea that “Your Lord is never forgetful.” Not only does He not forget, which is an err, He does not err in other regard. Not only does He never forget, but He has knowledge of all things.

Soul Food For The Week Of 10/29/2014

Soul food is a weekly collection of verses, stories, and quotes from various traditions to meditate on. All verses from the Hebrew Bible, Deuterocanonical books, and New Testament, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). All verses from the Quran, unless otherwise noted, are from the MAS Abdel Haleem Translation.

Jewish

Torah

“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”                                                                                                                                   -Exodus 20:12

Talmud

“All my life I have been raised among the wise, and I have found nothing better for the body than silence. The essential thing is not study, but deed. And one who speaks excessively brings on sin.”                                                                                                  -Ethics Of The Fathers 1:16

Deuteroncanon and Pseudepigrapha

Listen every day to the words of your father and mother,                                                                  and seek not to offend and dishonor them;                                                                                             for the son who dishonors and offends his father and mother,                                                             God ponders his death and his misfortune.                                                                                     Honor your father in the proper way.                                                                                                         -Sentences Of The Syriac Menander 20-24

Other

A man appreciates the love of his grandchildren more than the love of his own children.                      -Zohar

Christian

New Testament

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”–this is the first commandment with a promise: “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.                                                                                                                             -Ephesians 6:1-4

Church Fathers

Children, obey your parents, and have an affection for them, as workers together with God for your birth [into the world].                                                                                                                                -Ignatius, The Epistle Of Ignatius To The Philadelphians

New Testament Apocrypha

If you take on the guardianship of orphans, you will be the father of many children (and) you will be beloved of God.                                                                                                                                       -The Sentences of sextus 340

Other

Honor your parents and the lord will honor you.                                                                                      -Woodrow Kroll

Islamic

Quran

Your Lord has commanded that you should worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say no word that shows impatience with them, and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them respectfully and lower your wing in humility towards them in kindness and say, ‘Lord, have mercy on them, just as they cared for me when I was little.’ Your Lord knows best what is in your heart.                                                                                  -Quran 17:23-25

Hadith Al-Qudsi

A man sinned greatly against himself, and when death came to him he charged his sons, saying: When I have died, burn me, then crush me and scatter [my ashes] into the sea, for, by Allah, if my Lord takes possession of me, He will punish me in a manner in which He has punished no one [else]. So they did that to him. Then Allah said to the earth: Produce what you have taken and there he was! And Allah said to him: What induced you to do what you did? He said: Being afraid of You, O my Lord (or he said: Being frightened of You) and because of that Allah forgave him.                                                                                                                                                                   -Hadith Al-Qudsi 32, related by Muslim, Al-Bukhari, An-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah

Hadith

“A sin that accelerates death and annihilation of man is breaking off paying visits to one’s own relatives.”                                                                                                                                                 -Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.74, p.94

Sufism

“Pride thyself on what virtue thou hast, and not on thy parentage”                                                          -Muslih-uddin Sadi

Other

“There is no love like a mother’s nor a place like your homeland.”                                                          -Turkish Proverb

Other Wisdom

Which is the greatest service? The service of parents is the greatest. Which is the greatest of charges? The charge of oneself is the greatest. I have heard of keeping oneself, and thus being able to serve one’s parents. But I have not heard of failing to keep oneself, and yet being able to serve one’s parents.                                                                                                                                         -Mencius, IV, 19

This is the reason why mothers are more devoted to their children than fathers: it is that they suffer more in giving them birth and are more certain that they are their own.                                            -Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 9, 7

Soul Food For The Week Of 10/15/14

Soul food is a weekly collection of verses, stories, and quotes from various traditions to meditate on. All verses from the Hebrew Bible, Deuterocanonical books, and New Testament, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). All verses from the Quran, unless otherwise noted, are from the MAS Abdel Haleem Translation.

Jewish

Torah

And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family.                                                                                                                        -Leviticus 25:10

Talmud

“Assume for yourself a master; stay away from doubt; and do not accustom yourself to tithe by estimation.”                                                                                                             -Ethics of The Fathers 1:16

Deuterocanon and Pseudepigrapha

Do not say, “Who can have power over me?” for the Lord will surely punish you.                                  -Sirach 5:3

Other

“Every virtuous man is free.”                                                                                                                    -Philo Of Alexandria, Every Good Man is Free 1

Christian

New Testament

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”                                  -James 4:7

Church Fathers

This was done that all might know that those who are of a double mind, and who distrust the power of God, bring down judgment on themselves26 and become a sign to all succeeding generations.       -1 Clement 11:25-26

New Testament Apocrypha

He who will know our great Power will become invisible, and fire will not be able to consume him. But it will purge and destroy all of your possessions. For everyone in whom my form will appear will be saved, from (the age of) seven days up to one hundred and twenty years. (Those) whom I constrained to gather all that is fallen – and the writings of our great Power, in order that he may inscribe your name in our great light – and their thoughts and their works may be ended, that they may be purged, and be scattered and be destroyed, and be gathered in the place which no one in it sees. But you will see me, and you will prepare your dwelling places in our great Power.                     -The Concept Of Our Great Power

Other

“The man who hastens to the Lord, and desires to be directed by Him, that is, who makes his own will depend upon God’s, who moreover cleaves so closely to the Lord as to become (as the apostle says) ‘one spirit’ with Him, does all this by nothing else than by his freedom of will.”                             -Pelagius, Defense of The Freedom Of The Will

Islamic

Quran

“Control of the heavens and earth belongs to God: and to God is the final return.”                               -Quran 24:42

Hadith Al-Qudsi

“My love is obliged to those who love each other for My sake, who sit with each other for My sake, who visit each other for My sake, and who give to each other generously for My sake.”                       -Al-Muwattah, Volume 51, Hadith 15

Hadith

“Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert.”                                                                                             -Al-Bukhari, Book 75, Volume 8, Hadith 321

Sufism

Why ponder thus the future to foresee,                                                                                             and jade your brain to vain perplexity?                                                                                                  Cast off your care,                                                                                                                                      leave Allah’s plans to him                                                                                                                            – He formed them all without consulting thee.                                                                                       -Omar Khayyam, Three Cops of Tea, Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Other

“Things don’t just happen by accidents.”                                                                                                -Swahili Proverb

Other Wisdom

“Everything has its own destiny, and it is for us to accept our destiny in its true form.”                          -Mencius, VII, 2

“Thus said the maiden Lachesis, the daughter of Necessity: ‘You short-lived souls, a new generation of men shall here begin the cycle of its mortal existence. Your destiny shall not be allotted to you, but you shall choose it for yourselves… The responsibility lies with the chooser. Heaven is guiltless.’          -Plato, Republic, X, 617