Friday of the First Week of Lent, March 14, 2025

Friday of the First Week of Lent, March 14, 2025

Today’s Readings, from the USCCB:

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.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8

R.    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?

Verse before the Gospel

Ezekiel 18:31

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

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.”

 

A New Heart and a New Spirit

"Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit." – Ezekiel 18:31

There are things I regret.

Things I’ve said in anger.

Things I’ve done out of selfishness.

People I’ve hurt – some without realizing it, some knowing exactly what I was doing.

Times when I’ve been too proud to apologize, too stubborn to make things right.

I know what it’s like to carry those things, to feel their weight on my shoulders.

I also know what it’s like to wonder – Can I really change?

Because the truth is, I don’t always feel like I can.

I don’t always feel like I deserve a “new heart” or a “new spirit.”

But today’s readings remind me that God is still offering it.

Is God’s Way Really Fair?

Ezekiel addresses something I’ve wrestled with for years:

"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?"

I get that.

I’ve looked at the world and thought, This isn’t fair.

I’ve looked at my own life – the struggles, the losses, the prayers that seemed unanswered – and thought, This isn’t fair.

I’ve watched people who seem to have everything fall into more blessings, while others fight for scraps, and I’ve asked, God, how is this fair?

And yet, here’s God saying, It’s not Me. It’s you.

It’s your way of looking at justice.

It’s your way of deciding who deserves redemption.

It’s your way of holding onto the past instead of stepping into the future I’m offering.

That’s a hard thing to hear.

Because if I really believe that God’s mercy is limitless, then I have to accept that it includes me, too.

Even when I don’t feel like I deserve it.

Even when I don’t think I can change.

Even when I’ve convinced myself that I’ve fallen too far.

God doesn’t hold onto my past the way I do.

He doesn’t remember my worst moments and say, That’s who you are.

He just asks, Are you ready to turn back?

What Am I Holding Onto?

Jesus’ words today cut deep.

"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."

I’ve held onto grudges longer than I should have.

Heck, I’m holding on to some resentment right now as I type this.

I’ve been angry over things that happened years ago, things that honestly shouldn’t still have a grip on me.

And yet, they do.

And Jesus is saying – until I let those things go, until I make it right, I can’t fully come before Him.

So what am I holding onto that’s keeping me from being free?

·         A grudge I’ve been too stubborn to let go of?

·         A wound I haven’t allowed to heal?

·         A regret I can’t forgive myself for?

Because if I believe in God’s mercy, I have to start practicing my own.

That means forgiving others.

That means forgiving myself.

The Hope in All of This

The Psalm today asks a simple question…

"If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?"

The answer?

None of us.

Not me.

Not you.

Not the best, most “righteous” person I can think of.

We all fall short.

We all carry regrets.

We all have things we wish we could undo.

But with the Lord is kindness and with Him is plenteous redemption.

That’s the promise.

Not that we’ll never fail again.

Not that we have to earn His forgiveness.

Not that we have to stay trapped in guilt, thinking we’re beyond saving.

But that God is offering us a way forward.

A new heart.

A new spirit.

A chance to let go of the past and actually step into something different.

And I don’t know about you, but I need that today.

I need to believe that I can be different.

I need to believe that I’m not too far gone.

I need to believe that God really is as merciful as He says.

Because if He is, then that means I don’t have to be defined by my worst moments.

I can start again.

And so can you. 

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