FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Shake off all your sins – it is the Lord who speaks –
and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. EZK18:31

EZEKIEL 18:21-28 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We have examples of great sinners like St. Mary Magdalene and St. Augustine who became great saints. We thank You for the confidence we can have in God that no matter how gravely and how often we have sinned, when we approach You in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, You will wash us whiter than snow.

Thank You also for reminding us that if a good and holy person strays from the path of purity and commits evil then he will be judged and punished for the evil done irrespective of all the good of the past. Sinners can be saints but there is no hope for saints who fall into the hands of Satan unless they repent and ask Your forgiveness. 

You are just as well as holy and all Your ways are just. This is why no one can sin with impunity presuming that Your love will save them. We must all make the choice to be holy and perfect just as You are holy and perfect. You promise to provide all the help we need if we ask for it and You will be with us every step of the way. Without true contrition, without approaching You in the Sacrament of Confession, we cannot be absolved of our sins. You instituted this Sacrament for us to receive as often as we need it and You will never tire of forgiving us because You desire that all God's children be saved.

PSALM 130 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You hear every cry even when it is in silence. The cry from the depths of a soul in anguish and sorrow for having wounded the Heart of our God will always be heard and the repentant sinner can be confident that You will forgive. 

Truly, Lord, we are grateful that You instituted this healing Sacrament that brings comfort and consolation to sinners. There is always hope for us no matter how far we have strayed from the path of righteousness. You constantly provide us with opportunities to approach You for You do not desire even one of the least of Your little ones to be lost. 

Your holy Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. The repentant sinner will always find a welcoming embrace in the arms of our Father who waits with His arms wide open. For Your sake, He will not withhold His mercy to the sinner who falls prostrate before Him in humility and begs to be forgiven. 

May we use every opportunity of grace for the time of Your mercy will cease the moment we leave this world and stand before You as our Judge. Now is the time to repent, to confess, and to be reconciled.

MATTHEW 5:20-26 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.' 

We have all been hypocrites at one time or another. Too often we have girded ourselves daintily with a garb of conceit veiled in self-righteousness fooling no one but ourselves. 

Let us pay attention to Your stern warning today - without humility, without self-abnegation, without charity, without mercy, nothing we do will ever be pleasing to You. 

We are not exonerated when the poorest of the poor, the marginalized, the weakest among us have been victimized, used, abused, and discarded. Our lack of moral courage has played a part in rendering them invisible. To the extent that our apathy and indifference have contributed to their suffering, we are culpable.   

You have warned us in no uncertain terms that there is a hell, eternal damnation, and eternal punishment. If we refuse to believe we do so at our own peril. While there is yet time let us make amends, let us acknowledge our sins, let us bow in humility, and confess that we have sinned and beg Your forgiveness, mercy, and pardon. A humble, contrite heart, You will not spurn. Now is the acceptable time to reconcile with You and with our brothers and sisters lest we be cast from Your Presence until we have paid all that justice demands.