Choices

Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Following rules, whether they be the Rules of the Road for drivers or the rules in a sport or competition, is usually not at the head of a list of things that human beings enjoy.  Just this week, a rather loud argument about the rules of the sport of Curling marred the Olympic Competition that is taking place in Milan, Italy right now. No matter how precise the language in various rule books, there will always be different perspectives on what the rule or rules really say.

The same thing happens when we consider God’s rules or, as they are frequently called, God’s commandments. The Book of Sirach, from which we read today, teaches us that God has given us a free will. We can make a choice. God doesn’t force us to follow the commandments. However, Jesus ben Sira does make it clear that the choice is between life and death. To be clear, whenever the issue of life or death comes up in the Scriptures, we must read it “life with God,” or “life without God.”

The fact that we all have a free will and can choose to obey is God’s way of “honoring us.” God created us with the dignity of freedom. God trusts us to choose life rather than death. However, ben Sira also reminds us that freedom is not neutrality. Our choices shape our hearts, our relationship with God, and, ultimately, our destiny.

Our response today teaches us “Blessed are they who follow the Law of the Lord.” The psalmist delights in God’s commands because he sees them not as restrictions but as the path to joy. Think of a musician. Freedom doesn’t mean that he or she can hit random notes. Freedom means that the musician must master the discipline that allows beauty to emerge – beautiful melodies that express beautiful feelings. A beginning musician first learns how to play the scales – do, re, mi, and so forth. God’s commandments are the “scales of the spiritual life,” the structure that allows our lives to become a song of love.

In his Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of God’s wisdom vs. worldly wisdom. The world says: do what feels good, protect yourself first, avoid sacrifice, keep your options open. God’s wisdom is different. We are taught to love even when it costs us, forgive even when it hurts, choose the narrow path, trust that God sees what we cannot. He concludes with some of the most beautiful words in all of Scripture: “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has in store for those who love Him.” People are always wondering what heaven will be like. However, my limited human mind cannot even begin to conceive what God has in store for us. God’s plan for our life with him is bigger than our imagination. 

In the Gospel today, Jesus teaches us to go beyond the limitations of the commandments. He raises the bar. The commandment says, “You shall not kill.” Jesus says, “You shall not even get angry.” The commandment says “Do not commit adultery,” but Jesus says, “Do not even look with lust. The commandment says, “Don’t break your oath,” but Jesus says, “Let your ‘yes’ mean yes and your ‘no’ mean no.”

You might think that Jesus is asking too much of us. However, Jesus knew that we could not do this alone. Let’s be honest: Who can live this perfectly? Who has never been angry? Who has never looked with desire? Who has never spoken carelessly? Jesus is not setting us up for failure. He is revealing a truth: We cannot transform our hearts by willpower alone. We need his help, his grace. The good news is that the grace is freely offered for anyone who asks. Begin each day with this simple request: “Jesus, give me the grace to love you today, all day.” No one is perfect. Only Jesus and Mary were completely without sin. However, the grace of conversion, the grace of forgiveness is there for the asking. Before us are life and death. Let us choose life—and let Christ make our hearts new.