“The choice is yours.” This is how a priest ends his homilies. It should remind us that God gives us the ability to choose. Even more, He gives us freedom to choose. I marvel about the goodness of God who trusts us to make the right choices to live fully and happily. This is the message in today’s readings.

Reading the gospel, we might focus only on the discussion of signs. The Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign; he refuses them. Jesus’s choice challenges the Pharisees and us to examine how we choose to live our lives.

Is our love for family, friends and others a sign of God’s presence? Are our words signs of Christian faith? Do our deeds offer the needy a sign of hope in God? When we center ourselves in God’s life and love, we can truly live as His sign for others.

Abel exemplifies this when he offers the best of his flock to God in the first reading. His choice says God matters. Cain does not offer the best from the soil he tills. Even worse, he kills Abel. Though God punishes Cain, he still chooses to love and protect him from future harm. This is our God.

Many get lost in sinfulness. They seek God’s goodness to move beyond sin. We can be this sign because we bear God’s image and likeness. We do this best in the good choices we make to love one another as God loves.