Daily Readings - Sun Feb 12 2023

¹⁵He added his commandments and precepts¹⁶If you choose to keep the commandments, and if, having chosen them, you fulfill them with perpetual fidelity, they will preserve you¹⁷He has set water and fire before you. Extend your hand to whichever one you would choose¹⁸Before man is life and death, good and evil. Whichever one he chooses will be given to him¹⁹For the wisdom of God is manifold. And he is strong in power, seeing all things without ceasing²⁰The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, and he knows each one of the works of man

1 Corinthians

Chapter 2

⁶Now, we do speak wisdom among the perfect, yet truly, this is not the wisdom of this age, nor that of the leaders of this age, which shall be reduced to nothing⁷Instead, we speak of the wisdom of God in a mystery which has been hidden, which God predestined before this age for our glory⁸something that none of the leaders of this world have known. For if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory⁹But this is just as it has been written: "The eye has not seen, and the ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love him.¹⁰But God has revealed these things to us through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God

Matthew

Chapter 5

¹⁷Do not think that I have come to loosen the law or the prophets. I have not come to loosen, but to fulfill²⁰For I say to you, that unless your justice has surpassed that of the scribes and the Pharisees you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven²¹You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not murder; whoever will have murdered shall be liable to judgment.²²But I say to you, that anyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. But whoever will have called his brother, ‘Idiot,’ shall be liable to the council. Then, whoever will have called him, ‘Worthless,’ shall be liable to the fires of Hell²³Therefore, if you offer your gift at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you²⁴leave your gift there, before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then you may approach and offer your gift²⁷You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not commit adultery.²⁸But I say to you, that anyone who will have looked at a woman, so as to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart³³Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not swear falsely. For you shall repay your oaths to the Lord.³⁴But I say to you, do not swear an oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God³⁷But let your word ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ For anything beyond that is of evil

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of wisdom, choice, and the depth of our faith. The Book of Sirach presents us with a clear choice between life and death, good and evil, emphasizing that our decisions have eternal consequences. True wisdom lies in faithfully following God's commandments, which guide us toward life. This theme of wisdom continues in the Second Reading from 1 Corinthians, where St. Paul contrasts human wisdom with God's divine wisdom. He reminds us that God's wisdom is mysterious and beyond human understanding, revealed only through the Holy Spirit. This wisdom is not of this world and is often misunderstood by those who rely solely on human knowledge. In the Gospel, Jesus expands on the teachings of the law, calling us to a deeper righteousness that surpasses mere external observance. He teaches that our actions must stem from a pure heart, emphasizing that even our thoughts and words have moral implications. Jesus challenges us to move beyond legalism to a life of sincerity and integrity, where our "yes" means "yes" and our "no" means "no." This call to interior conversion is at the heart of the Christian life. As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded that our faith must be lived with depth and authenticity. It is not enough to follow rules superficially; we must allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and minds. In our daily lives, this means making choices that align with God's wisdom, seeking reconciliation when we fail, and striving to live with integrity in all we do. Let us ask for the grace to embrace the fullness of God's wisdom, allowing it to guide us in our thoughts, words, and actions. May we live in such a way that our lives reflect the deeper righteousness that Jesus calls us to, and may our hearts be open to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.