Deacon Matt's Reflection

Reflection for 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Feb 12, 2023
 
Sirach 15:15-20: There are many truths to reflect upon; just in this short reading! For instance, we can reflect upon the fact that obedience to God’s Law is a choice… as is disobedience. Both have consequences. God promises positive rewards for obedience and Scripture has many warnings of the negative consequences for     disobedience. The author identifies life as a consequence of goodness and death as a consequence of evil. The choice to embrace life and goodness over death and evil would seem to be so easy! However, life isn’t always so simple and we’re inevitably faced with subtle temptations that feed our pride. Thankfully, the gentle voice of our conscience often saves us. The loving, light-filled voice of the Holy Spirit beckons us back to the road to Heaven!
 
Psalm 119: “Blessed are they who follow the Law of the Lord! Continuing our theme of obedience, we contemplate the rewards that come from adherence to the Commandments of God. Single-hearted discipleship is praised by the psalmist. This week we would do well to reflect on the fact that, like the psalmist, we can pray to be filled with the virtue of “holy obedience.” Obedience, almost always recognized as a virtue, is now often focused on as an object of scorn, or thought to be a “passive behavior” of those, (the righteous), who are now seen as ignorant or “blindly compliant.” Instead, this week we can contemplate the peace, order and harmony that result from obedience and conformity to God’s Will and God’s law. We can pray to the Holy Spirit to be filled with Wisdom to accurately discern good from evil and “holy choices” over self-serving choices. Both will have consequences.
 
1 Cor. 2:6-10: This passage reverberates with the reflection that adherence to God’s Will imparts wisdom and teaches the obedient soul “truths” about the very Person and nature of God. Such pearls of Wisdom are hidden from those who are disobedient; because their rejection of God’s Law blinds them to goodness. A good passage to reflect upon is (1 John 2:3-6); which proclaims how keeping Christ’s Commandments assures “knowledge of Christ.” John reflects that “the love of God is made perfect” in “whoever keeps His Will.” As John so straightforwardly states, union with God comes to those who “conduct (themselves) as He did.” Conversely, separation from God   is the consequence for those who persist in disobedience. This week, let’s contemplate about the peace that attends those who are obedient to God’s Commands and pray for Wisdom and Love that will enable and empower our spiritual discernment.
 
Matt 5:17-37:  In today’s Gospel, Jesus squelches any debate. Jesus demands clear and whole-hearted obedience from His followers. Via the many examples of disobedience, Jesus describes how even “subtle” disobedience leads to further deterioration of virtue in the souls who wander from the path of righteousness.
 
It's important to note that Jesus’ insistence on complete conformity to the Law is not mere rigidity; but a holy consistency. This unwavering consistency generates order and harmony and a peaceful serenity that transcends and outlasts the world’s chaos and disunity. Contemplating this, we can be so thankful that our God and our Church don’t change Laws due to politics and the vagaries of public opinion that is so often influenced by biased propaganda with hidden agendas! Once again, let’s pray for holy wisdom and spiritual    discernment of Church and world leaders.    
 
Protect us, O Lord! Amen.  
Deacon Matt