The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 7:23 Σχόλιο

Christ the educator of humanity, our divine Logos, with every effort and with every gift of wisdom, has offered to save his children, warning them, reproaching, punishing, accusing, threatening, curing, making promises and granting grace. “With various bridles he keeps within bounds” the excessive outbursts of humanity. In short, the Lord conducts himself with us as we conduct ourselves with our children. “Do you have children? Discipline them,” Wisdom exhorts, “and make them obedient from their youth. Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity, and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.” Yet, our children, male and female, are what we love the most above anything else.

What does it mean to set one's face firmly against Jerusalem depicted on the brick, except that the teacher who announces to a soul the vision of heavenly peace should by no means show himself more lenient and merciful if he still sees that soul weakened in its actions? Hence it is written: "Do you have daughters? Guard their bodies, and do not show a cheerful face to them." For weak souls given over to worldly desire are sometimes better preserved through severity, so that a hardened face—that is, one guarded through severity and withdrawn from all hope of frivolous leniency—may terrify the inconstant soul and restrain it from the delight of vices through the force of strictness. When this is done by a teacher, it is always necessary that sweetness and humility be held in the heart, so that he may both love greatly and never rise up against the one whom he nevertheless refuses to reveal his love and humility to, for that person's own benefit.