Deuteronomy 30:15-20 & Sirach+15:15-20

Year A - Epiphany 6 or Guiding Gift ⁶

February 16, 2014

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Sirach 15:15-20

Deuteronomy 30:15—See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.

Sirach 15:15—If you choose, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.

Deuteronomy 30:19b—Choose life so that you and your descendants may live.

This seems so simple, so linear. In reality it is difficult to see choices as we are so constrained by our culture and experiences. There is so much outside our attention that we seldom come to a clear choice.

Even when we hear, “But I say to you . . .”, which clarifies that there is now a choice to be made, our go-to position seems to be, “I’ve never done it that way before” (which means I don’t see the choice you are claiming is present).

If it is a matter of life or death, how do teach each other and continue learning about the reality around and about that pushes us through a current understanding to an expanded vision? Until we realize we are our own worst enemy when it comes to choosing, we won’t put in place those processes whereby we keep open to a new option that deepens our own spirit and draws us closer together.

Blessings on having the eyes of a Magi to see a new star and choose to follow.