Today, the Catholic Church gives us readings from Sirach 15:15–20 (1st reading), 1 Corinthians 2:6–10 (2nd reading), and the Gospel from Matthew 5:17–37. I thank God for the opportunity to share with you.
The Word of God places before us a truth that is both simple and demanding: we are called to choose. The Book of Sirach tells us plainly, “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” God sets before us fire and water and invites us to stretch out our hand. He does not force us. He does not manipulate us. He respects our freedom. Yet he makes clear that our choices have consequences.
In a world that often speaks loudly about freedom, we can forget that freedom is not the absence of limits but the capacity to choose what is good. We sometimes desire blessing without obedience, peace without conversion and eternal life without sacrifice. But the Scriptures remind us that God has shown us the path that leads to life. “If you choose, you can keep the commandments.” The commandments are not burdens meant to crush us. They are safeguards meant to save us.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks with authority and depth. He says he has not come to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them. He does not lower the standard of righteousness. He brings it to completion. He moves us from external behavior to the inner life of the heart. “You have heard it said, ‘You shall not kill.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” “You have heard it said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, everyone who looks with lust has already committed adultery in his heart.”
The Lord’s words challenge us because they leave no room for superficial faith. It is possible to avoid grave outward sins and yet harbor bitterness, jealousy, impurity or dishonesty within. Jesus calls his disciples to a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. He calls us to integrity, to reconciliation and to purity of intention. He calls us to let our “Yes” mean “Yes” and our “No” mean “No.” Anything less fractures our witness and weakens our communion with God and with one another.
For those who approach the altar and participate in the life of the Church, this teaching is especially direct. If we remember that a brother or sister has something against us, we are urged to seek reconciliation before offering our gift. Worship and daily conduct cannot be separated. The Eucharistic table demands a converted heart. True devotion is inseparable from justice, forgiveness and fidelity in our relationships.
St. Paul deepens this reflection by reminding us that God’s wisdom is not the wisdom of this age. The world measures success by power, influence and self interest. The wisdom revealed through the Spirit points us toward humility, sacrifice and love. What eye has not seen and ear has not heard is what God has prepared for those who love him. The Christian moral life is not about repression. It is about preparation for glory. When we choose what is good, even at a cost, we align ourselves with a wisdom that surpasses every passing trend.
As we move toward the holy season of Lent, these readings offer a grace filled opportunity for examination and renewal. Lent will invite us to prayer, fasting and works of charity. Yet the preparation begins now in the quiet decisions of the heart. Each of us can ask: Where am I choosing comfort over conversion? Where do anger, resentment or untruth still have a hold on me? What habits of mind or body distance me from the holiness to which I am called?
In the coming days, it may be fruitful to choose one concrete area for reconciliation, one persistent weakness to confront with discipline and one practice of daily prayer to strengthen. Families might take time to speak honestly and forgive. Individuals might seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation with renewed sincerity. Communities might renew their commitment to serve the vulnerable. These steps, adapted to each person’s situation, become a living response to the Word we have heard.
The psalmist proclaims, “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.” Blessed does not mean free from struggle. It means rooted in God and directed toward life. The Lord sees every deed and understands every intention. He does not command injustice. He does not give license to sin. He offers grace and the gift of his Spirit, who searches even the depths of God and guides us into truth.
Today, once again, life and death are set before us, not in dramatic gestures but in daily choices of speech, thought and action. In how we forgive. In how we look at one another. In how we honor our commitments. In how we allow the law of God to shape not only our behavior but our hearts.
May we choose life. May we choose Christ. And may this approaching Lent find us ready, with hearts open to the transforming wisdom of the Spirit and to the mercy that God never tires of offering his people.
