Catholic Commentary on Sirach 49

"The name of Josiah is like blended incense prepared by the skill of the perfumer." (Sirach 49:1)

Josiah and the Later Prophets

The name of Josiah is like blended incense prepared by the skill of the perfumer; his memory is as sweet as honey to every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine. He did what was right by reforming the people and removing the abominable idols. He kept his heart fixed on the Lord; in lawless times he made godliness prevail. Except for David and Hezekiah and Josiah, all of them were great sinners, for they abandoned the law of the Most High; the kings of Judah came to an end. Isaiah the prophet was great and trustworthy in his visions. In his days the sun went backward; he lengthened the life of the king. Jeremiah was consecrated in the womb to uproot and pull down and to build and to plant. Ezekiel saw the vision of glory. Zerubbabel and Nehemiah and Nehemiah who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem are remembered.

The Catechism identifies the figure of Josiah as the model of the reforming leader who keeps their heart fixed on the Lord even in lawless times (CCC 2585).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Josiah kept his heart fixed on the Lord in lawless times and made godliness prevail. The difficulty of lawless times does not excuse the leader from the pursuit of godliness - it makes the pursuit more costly and more necessary. The reforming leader in a corrupt age is always swimming upstream. The name of such a person is like blended incense.

Prayer

Lord God, raise up Josiahs in every lawless age - leaders who keep their hearts fixed on you and make godliness prevail. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

49
1 The memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell made by the art of a perfumer: 2 His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth, and as music at a banquet of wine. 3 He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he took away the abominations of wickedness. 4 And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the days of sinners he strengthened godliness. 5 Except David, and Ezechias, and Josias, all committed sin. 6 For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the most High, and despised the fear of God. 7 So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to a strange nation. 8 They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the streets thereof desolate according to the prediction of Jeremias. 9 For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet from his mother’s womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and destroy, and to build again, and renew. 10 It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn him upon the chariot of cherubims. 11 For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of rain, and of doing good to them that shewed right ways. 12 And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of their place: for they strengthened Jacob, and redeemed themselves by strong faith. 13 How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on the right hand; 14 In like manner Jesus the son of Josedec? who in their days built the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory. 15 And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up for us our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates and the bars, who rebuilt our houses. 16 No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was taken up from the earth. 17 Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren, the support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the stay of the people: 18 And his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied. 19 Seth and Sem obtained glory among men: and above every soul Adam in the beginning.

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