Sirach 15: 15-20
If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
He has placed before you fire and water;
stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.
Before each person are life and death,
and whichever one chooses will be given.
For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees everything;
his eyes are on those who fear him,
and he knows every human action.
He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,
and he has not given anyone permission to sin.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Peace in the Chaos
I am not a disciplined person; some might even say I live a ‘messy’ life. While I show signs of structure and stability, these days I find myself behind schedule, a to-do list that’s never-ending, and confused about where to focus my mind and heart.
I’m also pretty hard on myself. Go figure.
Today’s readings invite a journey toward greater discipline, rooted in the language of commandment and law, that is meant to free us. God doesn’t demand perfection, but rather, deeper union through the law of love and our willingness to try. God invites us to see his commandments not as means of punishment, but as a structure that shapes our freedom. Discipline grounded in love helps transform scattered intentions into faithful actions, bringing peace and courage to restless hearts. In a messy world filled with chaos, our discipline can manifest abundant life and direct us toward justice, wisdom, and compassion.
—Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, is a vocation promoter for the Midwest Jesuits. To learn more about how to become a Jesuit, visit beajesuit.org.
Prayer
Good and loving God,
In a world that feels chaotic and overwhelming, grant me the courage to journey faithfully with You. Help me to embrace discipline not as a burden, but as a way to grow closer to Your heart. Teach me to see Your commandments as expressions of Your love, guiding me toward freedom, peace, and deeper compassion. Fill me with the wisdom and strength of Your Holy Spirit so that my choices reflect Your love in all I do. And when I falter, remind me that Your grace supports my every step, and that true freedom is found in loving You and loving my neighbor.
Amen.
—Fr. Eric Immel, SJ
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