FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT - 2022

LENT 2022

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. EZK 18:31

EZEKIEL 18:21-28 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Many of us relish gossiping about the sins and weaknesses of others but turn a blind eye to our own innumerable faults and failings. Today, as we reflect on the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel let us apply all that he says to ourselves and make a firm purpose of amendment, to turn away from all unrighteousness, and obey Your will in all things.

You are gracious and kind, You do not remember sins we have repented of and have been forgiven. If we renounce our evil habits, if we keep a firm grip on our tendencies to take the easy route rather than the narrow way, You will provide all the help we will need.  

We live in a terribly crooked world where evil is twisted to seem good and good evil. The world celebrates all that God abhors and so many of us are beguiled into believing the Great Deceiver.

We need a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit, Lord, not only on the Church but on the world so we sinners may renounce our wicked ways and walk once again the Way leading to the fullness of life, joy, and peace that is found only in You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

'When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.'

MATTHEW 5:20-26 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

We can be deceived by those who make a great show of their virtues and their piety but You O Lord, cannot be deceived.

The people were in awe of the Scribes and the Pharisees. They were learned, they knew the Law, they could recite long prayers from Scripture, they made a great show of giving their tithes scrupulously and very visibly and those who watched them were impressed and edified but not God. He sees all, He knows all. 

You were not afraid to call them out as hypocrites in public. You condemned the very ones who had hoodwinked the people into believing that they were better than the rest. This is Your dire warning to Your disciples then, now, and in every age, ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.'

Entrance to the Kingdom of God is only possible when we are prepared to stoop in childlike humility trusting You to save us in Your goodness and mercy. We are saved by grace and not by anything we do. All our good works are as filthy rags before You but You are gracious enough to look at them with kindness when we offer them to You out of our poverty. 

You gave the world a new way of living one that is gentler, kinder, more loving, more forgiving. To speak words that heal rather than wound and to be willing to listen, to understand, and not condemn. 

You are very serious when You say to us that God will refuse any offering we bring to Him before the Altar if we harbor any bitterness or unforgiveness in our hearts towards anyone. We must first be reconciled only then will You receive our offerings.

Anyone, no matter who they are or how high in the hierarchy, who is soft on the teaching on hell and the very real possibility of being sent there if we willfully and deliberately choose to sin gravely and are unrepentant, does a great disservice to God's people because they lie. You have warned us not once but often that hell is as real as heaven and we can choose to go there.   

As long as we are alive we have time to amend our lives. However, time will eventually run out for us all and if we do not repent we will be judged, and depending on the gravity of our unrepented sins, we will receive a sentence, and we will have to make reparation. 'I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.'