First Reading: Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 15: 15-20

All of us have choices to make. We have the potential to repent and grow towards God or to continue in sinful way. Here this is described as a choice between life and death. God creates in each of us the desire to be better. “Vast is the wisdom of the Lord”, no matter how we have failed or who we have failed, God encourages us to begin again. It is never too late to repent


Second Reading: St Paul to the Corinthians 2: 6-10

Despite our knowledge and maturity, the hidden wisdom of God can only be recognised with the eyes of faith. The wisdom of God is revealed to us in the person of a weak, crucified Christ. Only with faith can the crucifixion and death of Christ have any meaning. Those who put Christ to death did not know that he was the Son of God. It is the Holy Spirit who removes our blindness.


Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 17-37

The Sermon on the Mount describes how Jesus not only fulfils the old law, but also his new vision for life. He confirms the old law saying, “to kill is wrong”, but Jesus points out that the act of killing is a response to
anger from inside us. The new vision offered to us by Jesus is that we need to be reconciled with one another. It is important to establish peace. This view of life is much more radical than the requirements of the old law. It reminds us of the choices that lie before us. May the Spirit of God give us wisdom to recognise our sinfulness and help us to be reconciled with God
and one another.