Sirach/ Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20; Psalm 118(119); 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37
Writing about 132 BC, Ben Sira was a learned and widely travelled Jerusalem scholar. Today’s reading is one of the clearest statements in the whole Bible on free will. God created human beings and – as an essential part of our nature – gave us the ability to choose between right and wrong, life or death. God notes our actions, but “gives no one permission to sin”.
The psalm praises God’s law, which should be followed because it is designed to help us become who we are meant to be.
After saying he did not come using clever human oratory, Paul now tells the Corinthians something no human being could work out, namely God’s wisdom – his plan from the beginning for our salvation. Because this knowledge comes to us only by revelation, we must be open and listen to the Spirit who reveals it.
Continuing the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus states clearly that He is not abolishing the Jewish Law. But He then goes on to clarify the Commandments – we must obey them in spirit, not just a literal minimum. Our free will should be exercised with wisdom, so that we help to build the kingdom of God here on earth.
(Matthew 5:32 is usually understood to refer to marrying within forbidden degrees of kindred.)
Psalm Response: They are happy who follow God’s law!
(Sirach/ Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20; Psalm 118(119); 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37)