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Today’s First Reading comes from the Book of Sirach in the Old Testament (Sirach 15:15-20), and it offers the Jewish people advice on how to live their lives in a manner worthy of God, and make the choice between good and evil. This same principal would later be stated multiple times by Saint Paul when he would encourage the early Christian communities to live in a manner worthy of the call (Baptism) they have received. This principal appears in Ephesians 4:1, Philippians 1:27, Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, and 2 Thessalonians 1:11, so it is well documented. While Sirach respected the free will of the Jewish people to choose, he specifically tells them the right way to act. Then he goes on to describe the consequences, for better or for worse, of their decisions. If they choose to keep God’s commandments they will be saved. Trust in God and they will live. Choose death over life and they will get death in return. Choose evil over good and they will receive evil. Whatever they choose will be given back to them. This same principal was later emphasized by Jesus himself when he said “… the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you…” as found in Matthew 7:2, Mark 4:24, and Luke 6:38.
But why should the people believe Sirach? They know how hard it is to trust God whom they cannot see, even though God had continuously demonstrated a covenant fidelity toward his Chosen People throughout their history. God had always been faithful to his people, yet they still struggled in being faithful to God. Maybe this reminds us a little bit of ourselves! Evil can be very attractive, but Sirach encouraged the people of his time to choose the right way by saying that God is wise, powerful, and understanding. Sirach laid it out before the people of his time, and it is laid before us still today God gives life. Evil brings death. Choose life!