Friday of the First Week of Lent
Readings for Friday of the First Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading I: Ezekiel 18:21-28
Thus says the Lord GOD:
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 expounds upon the concept of individual responsibility (see also 2 Kings 14:6, Jeremiah 31:29ff, and Deuteronomy 24:16). He 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. It has been postulated that this may have been part of a liturgical rite that was an act of contrition prior to entering the temple in that it brings into consideration the code of the Law and the Code of Holiness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: 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
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you,
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, take a commandment of Mosaic Law and deepens the meaning. Here the Lord takes “You shall not Kill” (quoted from Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17) 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:
Just when we thought that we had it made, scripture insures that we remain constantly vigilant. Just when we thought we were doing everything according the commandments of the Law, Jesus changes the context to include interior holiness.
We are reminded by the Prophet Ezekiel that no matter how scrupulously we have followed all of the precepts and obligations of our faith in the past, if we mess up and fall off the wagon, as they say, we can still snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. If you will forgive an Olympic reference, it is like the Dutch speed skater, Sven Kramer, who was on his way to a gold medal in the 5,000 meter race this past week when his coach signaled him into the wrong lane on the final lap and he was disqualified. He was on track to win right up to that last mistake.
Like all analogies this one breaks down a bit. Unless we are at death’s door when we make that terrible error, the God of love will offer us another chance. We will get a do-over. We believe that there is a process for atonement, even after we pass from this world to the next. Although, we must believe it is far better to catch those mistakes before we get to Purgatory and need to get cleansed through that process.
To compound the difficulty we face and to re-emphasize the need for constant conversion and repentance, the Lord points out in St. Matthew’s Gospel that even if our actions do not violate the Law of God, our thoughts may still betray us. It is a measure of how far we need to go, looking at our private thoughts and our secret wishes. We are reminded that nothing is private to God. He hears our darkest prayers and sees our most ignoble desires.
How fortunate we are to have a season of Lent in which we can look at these flaws and see what we must change. Once again we propose a new measure for our daily spirituality. Instead of asking what Jesus would do, let us ask how Jesus would love. It is only through genuine love of God and of others that we can find that interior holiness the Lord calls us to follow.
Our prayer today is that we recognize the path we are on and may correct our course to follow the Lord more closely. We recall especially today the words spoken as the cross of ashes was traced: “Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel.”
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Cain Killing Abel” by Daniele Crespi, 1618-20
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Readings for Friday of the First Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading I: Ezekiel 18:21-28
Thus says the Lord GOD:
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 expounds upon the concept of individual responsibility (see also 2 Kings 14:6, Jeremiah 31:29ff, and Deuteronomy 24:16). He 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. It has been postulated that this may have been part of a liturgical rite that was an act of contrition prior to entering the temple in that it brings into consideration the code of the Law and the Code of Holiness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: 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
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you,
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, take a commandment of Mosaic Law and deepens the meaning. Here the Lord takes “You shall not Kill” (quoted from Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17) 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:
Just when we thought that we had it made, scripture insures that we remain constantly vigilant. Just when we thought we were doing everything according the commandments of the Law, Jesus changes the context to include interior holiness.
We are reminded by the Prophet Ezekiel that no matter how scrupulously we have followed all of the precepts and obligations of our faith in the past, if we mess up and fall off the wagon, as they say, we can still snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. If you will forgive an Olympic reference, it is like the Dutch speed skater, Sven Kramer, who was on his way to a gold medal in the 5,000 meter race this past week when his coach signaled him into the wrong lane on the final lap and he was disqualified. He was on track to win right up to that last mistake.
Like all analogies this one breaks down a bit. Unless we are at death’s door when we make that terrible error, the God of love will offer us another chance. We will get a do-over. We believe that there is a process for atonement, even after we pass from this world to the next. Although, we must believe it is far better to catch those mistakes before we get to Purgatory and need to get cleansed through that process.
To compound the difficulty we face and to re-emphasize the need for constant conversion and repentance, the Lord points out in St. Matthew’s Gospel that even if our actions do not violate the Law of God, our thoughts may still betray us. It is a measure of how far we need to go, looking at our private thoughts and our secret wishes. We are reminded that nothing is private to God. He hears our darkest prayers and sees our most ignoble desires.
How fortunate we are to have a season of Lent in which we can look at these flaws and see what we must change. Once again we propose a new measure for our daily spirituality. Instead of asking what Jesus would do, let us ask how Jesus would love. It is only through genuine love of God and of others that we can find that interior holiness the Lord calls us to follow.
Our prayer today is that we recognize the path we are on and may correct our course to follow the Lord more closely. We recall especially today the words spoken as the cross of ashes was traced: “Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel.”
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Cain Killing Abel” by Daniele Crespi, 1618-20
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 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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