Nature of Justification in Sirach

The first reading from Sirach discusses the relationship between honoring one's father and atoning for sins, challenging the belief in the forensic view of justification. This view asserts that once justified, individuals incur no further punishment for sin due to the imputation of Christ's righteousness. Sirach’s perspective suggests that even justified individuals can experience a debt of temporal punishment, thereby calling into question the traditional forensic interpretation. The implication is that atonement for sins remains relevant across all times, reinforcing the Catholic view of ongoing moral responsibility after justification.