Readings for Friday of the First Week in Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary for Friday of the First Week in Lent:[3]
Reading 1: Ezekiel 18:21-28
But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,
if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD.
Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way
that he may live?
And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,
the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,
can he do this and still live?
None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,
because he has broken faith and committed sin;
because of this, he shall die.
You say, "The LORD’S way is not fair!"
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,
does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
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Commentary on Ez 18:21-28
The Prophet Ezekiel begins this passage by saying that if an evil person turns away from their sins they will earn redemption. Speaking for God, he says that the Lord does not enjoy punishing those who disobey, rather he rejoices when repentance leads to redemption.
The reading continues saying that if a virtuous person falls into sin and turns from the righteous path, that person will die because of their sin.
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Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
Psalm 130 is a song of lament. The psalmist cries out to God to hear the voice of the one who calls and to forgive the sins they have committed. The third verse, which is also the refrain sums up the lament saying if there is not forgiveness all will fall because all have sinned.
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Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26
I (Jesus) tell you (disciples),
unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 5:20-26
This passage is the first of six examples in St. Matthew’s Gospel of conduct demanded of the Christian disciple. The first three, including this one today, takes a commandment of Mosaic Law and deepens the meaning. Here the Lord takes “You shall not Kill” to a new level. He reminds the disciples that they must not only avoid the impulse to physically act against another person but must also change their outlook in such a way that their thoughts do not take them into sin.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
As we listen to Friday’s readings we can easily recall Ash Wednesday and the beginning of this Lenten season. The words used when the ashes were applied –“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel!” Those words are repeated by Ezekiel and amplified by Christ in Mathew’s Gospel.
The words of repentance have, from the very earliest times, have resulted in forgiveness. It is one of God’s great gifts to us. He forgives. After love, forgiveness (which is a subset of love if we really think about it) is the most obvious characteristic of the Father.
God’s forgiveness is not like our forgiveness. When we forgive someone for a wrong – let’s say a salesman at a store purposely overcharged us. We discover the mistake and confront him. He says, “I’m sorry.” And we forgive him, right? But we probably don’t like him and may never do business with him again; in fact, we may never do business were he works again. God, on the other hand, forgives like a loving parent. He not only forgives the deed, but accepts the flaw in us that allowed us to commit such an act – no matter how heinous. We hear that in Ezekiel:
If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary for Friday of the First Week in Lent:[3]
Reading 1: Ezekiel 18:21-28
But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,
if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD.
Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way
that he may live?
And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,
the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,
can he do this and still live?
None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,
because he has broken faith and committed sin;
because of this, he shall die.
You say, "The LORD’S way is not fair!"
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,
does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ez 18:21-28
The Prophet Ezekiel begins this passage by saying that if an evil person turns away from their sins they will earn redemption. Speaking for God, he says that the Lord does not enjoy punishing those who disobey, rather he rejoices when repentance leads to redemption.
The reading continues saying that if a virtuous person falls into sin and turns from the righteous path, that person will die because of their sin.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
Psalm 130 is a song of lament. The psalmist cries out to God to hear the voice of the one who calls and to forgive the sins they have committed. The third verse, which is also the refrain sums up the lament saying if there is not forgiveness all will fall because all have sinned.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26
I (Jesus) tell you (disciples),
unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 5:20-26
This passage is the first of six examples in St. Matthew’s Gospel of conduct demanded of the Christian disciple. The first three, including this one today, takes a commandment of Mosaic Law and deepens the meaning. Here the Lord takes “You shall not Kill” to a new level. He reminds the disciples that they must not only avoid the impulse to physically act against another person but must also change their outlook in such a way that their thoughts do not take them into sin.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
As we listen to Friday’s readings we can easily recall Ash Wednesday and the beginning of this Lenten season. The words used when the ashes were applied –“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel!” Those words are repeated by Ezekiel and amplified by Christ in Mathew’s Gospel.
The words of repentance have, from the very earliest times, have resulted in forgiveness. It is one of God’s great gifts to us. He forgives. After love, forgiveness (which is a subset of love if we really think about it) is the most obvious characteristic of the Father.
God’s forgiveness is not like our forgiveness. When we forgive someone for a wrong – let’s say a salesman at a store purposely overcharged us. We discover the mistake and confront him. He says, “I’m sorry.” And we forgive him, right? But we probably don’t like him and may never do business with him again; in fact, we may never do business were he works again. God, on the other hand, forgives like a loving parent. He not only forgives the deed, but accepts the flaw in us that allowed us to commit such an act – no matter how heinous. We hear that in Ezekiel:
If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,
if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
We hear the forgiveness. Also hear the key to forgiveness on our part is repentance (“If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed…”). What Ezekiel tells us is, if we sin (we define sin as; a conscious failure to love.), and knowingly continue, unrepentant (this means we will probably repeat the act), we are not in a state of grace or forgiveness. We have turned, not away from our sin, but away from God.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel that it goes even further. If we sin in our thoughts, we have committed that sin in the eyes of God. This statement binds us to vigilance and prohibits us from the hypocritical path of the Pharisee who, because of their rigid adherence to the letter of Rabbinic Law, felt they were somehow better than those who were not so outwardly scrupulous. We are called to a higher standard (some might say an impossible standard) of spirituality. Our thoughts and actions must coincide. What is seen must be genuine.
The call to repentance and the pledge of God’s forgiveness for true contrition are the connected messages we take with us today. As always the doing is much more difficult than the saying. We pray today that we may come to true contrition through our repentance and by doing so, come into the peace of Christ.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture today is “St. Peter Repentant” by Francisco de Goya Y Lucientes, 1823-25
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
We hear the forgiveness. Also hear the key to forgiveness on our part is repentance (“If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed…”). What Ezekiel tells us is, if we sin (we define sin as; a conscious failure to love.), and knowingly continue, unrepentant (this means we will probably repeat the act), we are not in a state of grace or forgiveness. We have turned, not away from our sin, but away from God.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel that it goes even further. If we sin in our thoughts, we have committed that sin in the eyes of God. This statement binds us to vigilance and prohibits us from the hypocritical path of the Pharisee who, because of their rigid adherence to the letter of Rabbinic Law, felt they were somehow better than those who were not so outwardly scrupulous. We are called to a higher standard (some might say an impossible standard) of spirituality. Our thoughts and actions must coincide. What is seen must be genuine.
The call to repentance and the pledge of God’s forgiveness for true contrition are the connected messages we take with us today. As always the doing is much more difficult than the saying. We pray today that we may come to true contrition through our repentance and by doing so, come into the peace of Christ.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture today is “St. Peter Repentant” by Francisco de Goya Y Lucientes, 1823-25
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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