Choosing Fire or Water

Reflection on Readings for Sunday 15FEB20126

(Sirach 15:16-21 & Psalm 119)

In the Book of Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus), we hear a stark, empowering truth: “If you wish, you can keep the commandments, to behave faithfully is within your power. He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer. Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him” (Sir 15:16-17). God never commands godlessness or permits sin without consequence (Sir 15:20-21). This isn’t determinism—it’s divine respect for free will, a cornerstone of Catholic teaching on human agency and grace.

Psalm 119 echoes this call: “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! … Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law. … Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes” (Ps 119:1-2, 17-18, 33).

This moment mirrors the Hero’s Journey archetype, where the ordinary person stands at the threshold of adventure. Joseph Campbell’s monomyth begins with a call, often refused at first, but here Sirach presents the choice plainly: life (water, virtue) or death (fire, vice).

Mythologically, it recalls Hercules at the crossroads. In ancient Greek tales, young Hercules meets two figures—Vice offering ease and pleasure, Virtue demanding toil for lasting glory. He chooses the harder path, forging his heroic legacy through labors. Similar choices appear in Norse lore, like Odin sacrificing an eye for wisdom at the World Tree.

Psychologically, this engages the brain’s structure. The prefrontal cortex handles executive decisions, weighing long-term consequences and exercising self-control. The amygdala drives emotional impulses—fear, anger, desire—often urging the “fire” of quick gratification. Neuroplasticity shows that repeated virtuous choices strengthen prefrontal pathways, rewiring habits toward resilience and moral growth. Grace elevates this natural capacity, turning biology into a tool for holiness.

Today, you stand at your own crossroads. Where are you reaching for fire instead of water? Begin with small, deliberate choices: forgive a grudge, resist a harmful impulse, seek God in prayer. Commit to a daily examen—review your day, note patterns, and choose life anew. The path of virtue isn’t easy, but it leads to true freedom and glory. What choice will you make right now?

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