Ecclesiasticus 15:16-21; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37

“O Father, grant us the wisdom to see the world clearly. Guide us to make rational decisions rooted in truth. Help us to discern right from wrong with common sense.” This prayer with slight variations is often quoted when we are in a discernment process and not sure where to go. God has given us choices and guidelines, but it is our responsibility to choose the right path.

The guidelines are God’s Commandments. The first Commandments relate to God, and the other Commandments relate to our behaviour as members of a human family.
God has given us choices but also limits. Some decisions we are confronted with are not easy: shall we choose fire or water? Fire can give us light, warmth and good food – but it can also devour properties and even life. Water can quench our thirst, water the plants that we eat and cleanse us – but it can also cause destruction and death. What shall we choose? Our decision might lead to life or death.
God will help us in our decisions as long as we trust and honour God – not being fearful as of being afraid, but rather respecting, being in awe of God. God is not leaving us but rather watching our steps and deeds. Ready to support us as long as we are not turning against God.
This passage in the Book of Wisdom also confirms that any action in the name of God can only be in the name of God if it follows God’s Commandments. We cannot blame God for choices that are in our hands. God gave us the wisdom to discern right from wrong.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul reiterates this call for applying the wisdom God has given to all of us. This wisdom is not a philosophy, a learned wisdom that we reach after studies and learning.
Our most precious wisdom is the wisdom that we are given through God’s mysteries. We experience the wisdom “that God has prepared for those who love God”. This wisdom is revealed to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The readings on discernment, our responsibility for our actions and the wisdom revealed through the Holy Spirit, are preparing us for the season of Lent. During Lent, we are asked to calm down from our busyness of life and ponder on our deeds and the wisdom we have received to discern right from wrong.

In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus addresses these questions of God’s Commandments, the ruling laws or authorities.
Even in Jesus’ time there would have been questions of which law and rule to follow. The first Israelites had their authorities and God’s Commandments, but with the increasing influence of the Roman, Greek, Babylonian and other cultures, people were confused. Which authority was more important? If following one law meant breaking another law, life had become more difficult, and the people had to decide on how much they could adopt the foreign rules over God’s Commandments.
In this situation, Jesus comes with his teachings. He interprets passages differently to the high priests. Was Jesus contradicting their teachings which had been handed down from Moses and the prophets? Jesus makes it very clear: “I have come not to abolish but to complete them.” However, he doesn’t refer to the words in the Law, but rather to its purpose. This is a crucial message.

The meaning of words can change from generation to generation, until the meaning of certain words even might have to be explained and commented. Jesus refers to the purpose. God’s purpose of the Law hasn’t changed.
Those who teach God’s commandments need to understand the purpose and teach accordingly.  To discern the purpose and meaning of God’s Law needs more than human knowledge-based training. It needs wisdom.

Jesus gives examples of how laws can be taken literally without fulfilling their purpose. He criticises hypocrites and people whose actions are not based on truth but rather only abide by the letter of the word and are hence superficial. Others cannot see if a person truly had a conversion of the heart – but God can. God will judge the hypocrites.

Obeying by the word of a law still opens the door to half-truths or to misconceptions. For important matters, a human judge would also ask a person to take an oath of saying the truth. However, any oath is also based on trust. The judicial system trusts that the person speaking under oath has reasons for fearing that not saying the truth would have severe consequences.
Jesus challenges the necessity of taking an oath in the first place. God knows our actions. God knows the truth. There is no oath needed. Just say the truth. There is no way to hide it.
If we can rely on everyone saying the truth, in fact, no oath is needed.

Mere promises are often limiting. As Pope Benedict XVI pointed out: “The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.”

If we trust in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the wisdom we were all granted by God, we will find the purpose of God’s Laws – and we might be surprised that we will find not just comfort, but also the energy for greatness.

BM