The first reading said that God will set before us fire [light a fire] and water [pour some water from a pitcher]. We can stick out our hand into whichever one we want. Which would you choose?
It seems simple enough. Most of us would choose to stick our hand into water instead of fire, for water wouldn’t hurt us. Fire will hurt us. But think of fire as a metaphor; that it represents all the things we want to grab that look bright and wonderful, but could harm us. For example . . . this drink, this website, this new phone or even something as wonderful as time. If you had more free time, what would you do with it?
It is not so much that the “thing” itself is good or bad, but we can make it either good or bad. For example, this can of beer [open a can of beer and pretend to start drinking it] is neither bad nor good. But if it is my seventh beer this morning, that is not a wise decision. But an occasional drink to celebrate an occasion is fine . . . maybe even good.
The writer of the first reading, Sirach, says we choose. And we can choose life or death. But it is not always so simple.
In the time of Jesus, people were stuck on the rules. They only looked at the action itself. Jesus says, “No, no . . . what’s the intention behind the action?” For example, someone could say “I am pure. I have never killed someone.” But Jesus changes the thought and commands us to go deeper . . . and examine if our anger is like killing someone. Or our words or gossiping is like killing someone. What’s your intention? Is it for life or for death? When you are anger with someone . . . do you want to “pull them down” or “”build them up?’ It could look the same from the outside, but it is your intention that matters.
So think about time. Most of us would say that we don’t have enough time. If I asked you if you have an hour each day next week to pray (which is 7 hours) most of us would say, “I don’t have any extra time. I am too busy.” But let’s say that the water pipe breaks in your basement today and it’s a mess. But by the time you clean things up, call someone to repair the pipe, replace the dry wall, get rid of the carpet, etc. It could add up to more than 7 hours of time . . . but you said that you don’t have any extra time.
It is all about priorities. We all have time. But we don’t all have our priorities in order. It is about intention.
Think of this: you know those wonderful letters that we give and receive at Christmas time? [Hold up a few copies]. Usually they are bragging about all the great things we did for the year. And usually it is about the “outside” appearance of things. For example, we went on this trip, Billy won the Spelling Bee, we bought a new car, etc.
Well, try writing your 2017 Christmas letter today. And instead of a list of activities, write about your intentions. List your intentions. For example, I become more patient this year, I have spent more time with God this year. I learned how to “let go” more and to trust God more.
None of those things happen unless we make them a priority, or focus on them. As the Sirach said, you choose life or death. You choose how your life will become . . . for others can look at your outer actions and see a saint, but you know that you are not. Or you can decide to strive to become more saintly IN YOUR INTENTIONS, in how you approach your work, your school, your family and even if no one else can see it . . . as Sirach said, “God understand our every deed.”