Yes?

A Reflection on the First Reading for February 16th, 2020:
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sirach 15.15-20

If you choose, you can keep the commandments, and they will save you. If you trust in God, you too shall live, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.

The Lord has placed before you fire and water; stretch out your hand for whichever you choose. Before each person are life and death, good and evil and whichever one chooses, that shall 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.

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Do you want fries with that?


This is a choice. A decision you’ve faced in your life at one point or another. When faced with such a choice, especially food related, I inevitably choose “yes”. It’s a pretty uncomplicated choice. I mean, who doesn’t want fries?


In this passage from the prophet Sirach, we are also offered a choice; a much more important choice. One that will impact our lives. Fries, while close to my heart, tend to have a greater impact on my waistline than my life. What strikes me about the choice that Sirach gives, is the simplicity with which that choice is offered; so matter of fact. The first two lines are so clear and straightforward, how could you not say yes?


If you choose, you can keep the commandments, and they will save you. If you trust in God, you too shall live, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.


Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have all said yes to us. Have we responded yes in return? I have, countless times as a matter of fact. At my baptism, my parents answered yes on my behalf, but from my first communion, and every time that I have received Him since, I personally say yes to the life Christ promises. Actually, every time I receive any sacrament, it is an opportunity to say yes. But do I always recognize the weight of that yes? With each yes, my life is changed. Or at least it should be. After all, I am saying yes to a relationship with someone beyond myself. Relationships imply an action of give and take. Even my “yes” to the french fries means that I ultimately have to eat (take) them as they “give” themselves to me. In saying yes to a relationship with God, He gives and I take. But do I take more than I give?


Saying yes can sometimes be the easy part. But fulfilling the intent behind the yes is the challenge. Considering what I might have to give of myself by saying yes can be scary, and cause hesitancy in my yes. Several years ago, Shonda Rhimes, a TV producer with several hit shows under her belt, released a memoir called, Year of Yes. It chronicled a year in her life where she said yes to every challenging, scary, anxiety producing request that came her way. Saying yes changed her perspective and her life. As a Catholic, I believe God changed her life. He does the same in my life every time I choose to be vulnerable by saying yes and living into that yes. Full disclosure, while I was intrigued by the book’s premise, I have not read the book. Yet. Reflecting on this scripture has piqued my interest. I’ll have to pick it up. Maybe with some fries.


The giving and taking in my yeses changes my life by opening me to all the life God has to give me. In turn, I witness to others what a life changed by Christ can look like. A disciple’s life is a series of active yeses. And it started with one yes. Not our own. God’s.



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​Aurea Sadi

Photo by MusicFox Fx on Unsplash

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