February 12, 2023, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time-A

Sirach 15:15-20

Psalm 119

1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Matthew 5:17-37

Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him.  Sirach 15:17

“Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No’.  Matthew 5:37

Lord, I wonder, are the words from Sirach an insight into the final judgement? What a chance the Father took in creating us with a free will!  He did not form a race of robots executing lines of software code but a people who can freely choose to believe in him or not. In his marvelous plan for our salvation, we were given the commandments for our own good. Our Good Shepherd is trying to protect his lost, wounded and wandering lambs from doing harm to themselves or one another. So, each day, I have the freedom to follow you or to go my own way. Happily, I do not face this choice alone. There is a great chorus of saints in heaven praying for me. My Holy Mother Mary is pleading for me at the very throne of God. I have sacred scripture for guidance and the gift of your grace for strength. A magnificent plan has been revealed by you, dear Jesus, that I want to say “yes” to. Bless all my choices and decisions today: the great and the small.  May your Holy Spirit light my path to you always.  Amen.