1ST WEEK OF LENT
St. Polycarp, bishop & martyr
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet)
Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities,
who can stand?
1st Reading: Ez 18:21-28
If the sinner turns from his sin, observes my decrees and practices what is right and just, he will live; he will not die. None of the sins he committed will be charged against him; he will live, as a consequence of his righteous deeds. Do I want the death of the sinner? — word of Yahweh. Do I not, rather, want him to turn from his ways and live?
But if the righteous man turns away from what is good, and commits sins as the wicked do, will he live? His righteous deeds will no longer be credited to him; but he will die, because of his infidelity and his sins.
But you say: Yahweh’s way is not just! Why, Israel! Is my position wrong? Is it not rather that yours is wrong? If the righteous man turns from his righteous deeds, and sins, then he dies, because of his sins. And if the wicked man does what is good and right, after turning from the sins he committed, he will save his life. He will live and not die, because he has opened his eyes; and turned from the sins he had committed.
Gospel: Mt 5:20-26
I tell you, if your sense of right and wrong is not keener than that of the Lawyers and the Pharisees you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to our people in the past: Do not commit murder; anyone who murders will have to face trial. But now, I tell you: whoever gets angry with a brother or sister will have to face trial. Whoever insults a brother or sister is liable to be brought before the council. Whoever calls a brother or sister “Fool!” is liable of being thrown into the fire of hell. So, if you are about to offer your gift at the altar, and you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there, in front of the altar; go at once, and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.
Don’t forget this: be reconciled with your opponent quickly when you are together on the way to court. Otherwise he will turn you over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, who will put you in jail. There, you will stay, until you have paid the last penny.
Reflections
MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR BROTHER/SISTER
Peace is the most wanted commodity in our times. There is so much violence in our world: economic, political, cultural, religious, gender, domestic. It is appalling to read of students capable of gunning down their classmates and teachers in broad daylight. So everyone is longing for peace. But peace in society is not possible unless we, individually, are men and women of peace. It is so clear in Christ’s teaching that it is so important that he commands us to postpone our worship and first make peace with our neighbor before we offer sacrifice or go to the Church to take part in worship. This is more important to him than all the sacrifices and rituals in the world. We have to initiate peace, never mind if we are the older one, the aggrieved one, the “faultless” one. This certainly needs humility and generosity. But it could start a circle of peace which could link with other circles of peace until there is actually peace in the whole community. Indeed: BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
Daily Reflection 2018
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