Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.
“…he has set before you fire and water…to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” (Sirach 15:15-20)
CHOICES: Very seldom in scripture do we see a reference to free will – man’s ability to make choices. We have such a reference in the passage above from today’s first reading.
God gave man the gift of free will. However, free will is a double edged sword. On the one hand, we are blessed with the ability to make our own choices.
On the other hand, there are many paths that lead us to the wrong choice:
- Perhaps we make our decisions based on what society tells us is acceptable.
- Maybe we simply respond to our own immediate needs and desires.
- Or, we fail to discern God’s will for us; we don’t consider his desire for us
There is a piece that often gets lost when considering the God-given gift of free will. That is, we have a responsibility to make informed decisions.
We must inform our minds. We do this by:
- Using prior experiences to inform future behaviors – learning from our past.
- Doing our due diligence – thinking through the impact of the decisions we face.
- Or, drawing on the wisdom and expertise of others we trust to help us make informed decisions.
We must also inform our hearts. We need to spend time in prayer and reflection in order to discern God’s will for us.
What do we believe God’s plan is for us? Do we think we are using our God-given gifts as he intended? How can we incorporate God’s will for us into our decision-making?
From the Deacon's Desk 
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