“… if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” Sir 15:15-16
The readings today couldn’t be any clearer on the importance of following God’s commandments. The Old Testament reading reminds us that we are given the choice between good and evil; life and death. It is up to us to reject sin and evil and choose life. The psalmist sings his gratitude for the great graces and blessings given to those who follow God’s laws. St. Paul speaks of the wisdom of God, which will bring blessings beyond human comprehension to those who love God. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus tells us to go beyond just following the letter of the law and warns of the consequences of refusing or failing to do so, even in our hearts. Sin does more damage to the human soul than the loss of physical abilities. Whatever causes us to sin must be cut off, because there are eternal consequences.
The Lord’s warnings may sound harsh, until we recall that He also has given us the path to eternal life and the grace of redemption, by His death and resurrection. Jesus provides all we need to overcome our human weaknesses and offers us infinite mercy when we fail. All we have to do is turn to Him and ask for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This sacrament washes away all sin, strengthens us to resist temptation, and awakens in us the desire to be more faithful to God’s holy will.
So we have an invitation and a choice. Which of us, if we truly understood what we are being offered, would reject the beautiful, life-giving, commandments of God? God is calling us to open our hearts to His mysterious, hidden wisdom, to reject the “wisdom of this age,” so that someday, we will see the beauty and the glory of “what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
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