Who said being a Christian was going to be easy? As Christian’s we are called to a higher standard, and must not blend in with everyone else. Jesus wants much more than outward observances of his law. He has written his law on our hearts and He’s very interested in a transformation of our hearts. He reminds us today he did not come to abolish but to “fulfill” the Law of Moses and the the prophets. This means Jesus is revealing to us a deeper meaning and purpose of the Ten Commandments and the moral Law of the Old Testament. He actually transcends the Law of Moses, and demands from us, a moral life that is even far greater than that of the most pious of Jews, scribes or Pharisees. It would seem to be an almost impossible task. He even ended this same gospel message commanding, “we must be perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect.” And if that’s going to happen, we are going to need an awful lot of Grace.God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called, Amen. All of us here fall short of the glory of God, but thanks be to God, he gives us his grace. So just what exactly is Grace? And how do we receive it? Grace is first given to us at baptism and then subsequently through all the sacraments. It’s free, undeserved, we don’t earn it, but we can loose it, and fall out of it by sin. The best news, is it can be restored to us by Gods mercy and forgiveness. It comes to us in many ways, and most abundantly in all the sacraments. In about 10 days we will begin lent. This is a time when we will up our game in prayer, fasting and almsgiving, turning our hearts towards God and away from temporal matters. Grace is the love of God being poured into our hearts. Paul in our second reading today describes this love of God, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.” This amazing Grace is a free gift that we must freely open. If we open it we will receive all that is necessary to live by this higher calling God has given to each of us today. Our first reading from Sirach emphasizes choice is involved, “If you choose, you can keep the commandments.” God has placed before us fire and water; and he tells us to simply stretch out our hands to whichever we choose. Our lives are ultimately defined by the choices we will make. At any given moment, our free will gives us the ability to complete freedom of choice, to either burn in fire, or to be free to live in accordance with the cool, living water of our baptism. As Joshua says, “Choose this day whom you will serve, As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” And in the book of Deuteronomy, we hear, “I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life.” God’s Grace helps us make that choice in any given moment. Grace helps us to become perfect like our Heavenly Father. We are all called to be Saints. It slowly changes us more into the image we were created to be. It’s a life long journey and what the Church calls “The call to holiness.” For holiness is the only true happiness in this world. Holiness is a life filled with Gods Grace. And from Grace, peace and happiness flow. Something the world cannot give, provide, or even understand. Our responsorial psalm today describes “how blessed is the one who walks in the law of the Lord, who observes what he says, who seeks him with all his or her heart.” Obedience leads to true peace and happiness comes.