6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A

It has been said, “The god you worship is the god you deserve.” Our first reading would suggest that. According to the Book of Sirach, “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given to him.”

These rather black and white words are warning shots to those who had failed to abide in the Commands of God. If they worshiped the True God of Israel, they would be saved. If they chose another god, they we die in their sins.

It is from this perspective that we should read Sirach’s message of the all-seeing God: “The eyes of God are on those who fear Him.” God knows and sees all who follow Him and those who follow false gods.

This isn’t to say that people will not sin. Indeed, God had a remedy for those who desired to live righteous lives but slipped from time to time. In the Old Testament, the remedy was daily sacrifices in the temple. In the New Testament, it was the once for all, never-to-be-repeated sacrifice of Jesus the Christ.

Our First Reading reminded us that God sees everything and everyone. Our inner heart and conscience is revealed to God by the way we follow His commands.

Now, through the giving of the Holy Spirit, we have the blessing of peering into the heart of God. Those who live in the Spirit see God in a way that cannot be seen by those without the Spirit. In the Spirit, we see God in a “mysterious” and “hidden” way. We see “even the depths of God.”

As Catholics, we celebrate this hidden mystery of God in Christ; especially in the Eucharist. With the Lamb of God lying on our altars every Sunday, we proclaim “the mystery of our faith.”

This once-for-all, never-to-be-repeated sacrifice on our altar is hard for unbelievers to fathom. Those who do not live in the Spirit live only in the “wisdom of this age,” and not in the wisdom and mystery of faith in Christ the Lord.

As we continue in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we hear him say, “I have come not to abolish [the law] but to fulfill.” He offers a few examples of a fulfilled law:

1. Thou shalt not kill also includes thou shalt not live in anger.
2. Thou shalt not commit adultery includes thou shalt not lust.

It is interesting to note that these two laws (above) are of the original Ten Commandments and Jesus’ disciples are expected to live according to the spirit of the law. The next four examples (two this weekend and two next Sunday) are attributed to Moses, but are seemingly reversed by Jesus.

3. Whoever divorces his wife must submit a bill of divorce becomes whoever divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery.
4. Do not take a false oath but make good to the Lord all that you vow becomes do not swear at all. Let your [own] “Yes” mean “Yes” and your [own] “No” mean “No.”

In each of these cases, we hear the Lord say, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Living only according to the letter of the law limits us in our growth and relationship with God and God’s people. If we live only by the letter of the law, we can get by through life without a loving relationship. God expects more!

Valentine’s Day is this week. Tell someone you love them!

God, my Father, may I love You in all things and above all things. May I reach the joy which You have prepared for me in Heaven. Nothing is good that is against Your Will, and all that is good comes from Your Hand. Place in my heart a desire to please You and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love, so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace. Amen.

Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.

You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!