Daily Readings - Fri Feb 23 2018

First Reading - Ezekiel 18.21-28

²¹But if the impious man does penance for all his sins which he has committed, and if he keeps all my precepts, and accomplishes judgment and justice, then he shall certainly live, and he shall not die²²I will not remember all his iniquities, which he has worked; by his justice, which he has worked, he shall live²³How could it be my will that an impious man should die, says the Lord God, and not that he should be converted from his ways and live²⁴But if a just man turns himself away from his justice, and does iniquity in accord with all the abominations that the impious man so often does, why should he live? All his justices, which he has accomplished, shall not be remembered. By the transgression, in which he has transgressed, and by his sin, in which he has sinned, by these he shall die²⁵And you have said, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Therefore, listen, O house of Israel. How could it be that my way is not fair? And is it not instead your ways that are perverse²⁶For when the just man turns himself away from his justice, and commits iniquity, he shall die by this; by the injustice that he has worked, he shall die²⁷And when the impious man turns himself away from his impiety, which he has done, and accomplishes judgment and justice, he shall cause his own soul to live²⁸For by considering and turning himself away from all his iniquities, which he has worked, he shall certainly live, and he shall not die

Gospel - Matthew 5.20-26

Matthew

Chapter 5

²⁰For I say to you, that unless your justice has surpassed that of the scribes and the Pharisees you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven²¹You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not murder; whoever will have murdered shall be liable to judgment.²²But I say to you, that anyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. But whoever will have called his brother, ‘Idiot,’ shall be liable to the council. Then, whoever will have called him, ‘Worthless,’ shall be liable to the fires of Hell²³Therefore, if you offer your gift at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you²⁴leave your gift there, before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then you may approach and offer your gift²⁵Be reconciled with your adversary quickly, while you are still on the way with him, lest perhaps the adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown in prison²⁶Amen I say to you, that you shall not go forth from there, until you have repaid the last quarter

Sermon

The readings today remind us of God’s profound mercy and the call to live with integrity and compassion. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear that even the most wayward person can turn back to God and live. Ezekiel emphasizes that it is not God’s will for anyone to perish but for all to repent and live. This passage underscores the justice and fairness of God, who judges each person based on their actions and their willingness to turn away from sin. It challenges us to reflect on our own lives and to remember that true justice comes from living according to God’s ways, not our own. In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further. He teaches that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, who followed the law meticulously but often missed the spirit of it. Jesus expands the commandment against murder to include even the anger and insults that can lead to division and harm. He calls us to reconciliation, urging us to mend relationships even before offering worship. This teaching highlights the importance of living with love, humility, and a willingness to forgive and be forgiven. Together, these readings invite us to examine our hearts and actions. Ezekiel reminds us that true conversion is possible and that God’s mercy is always available. Jesus, however, challenges us to go deeper, to not just avoid sin but to cultivate love and reconciliation in our daily lives. As we reflect on these words, let us ask ourselves: Are we living with the kind of integrity and compassion that reflects God’s justice? Are we quick to forgive and to seek forgiveness? May we turn to God with open hearts, trusting in His mercy, and strive to live in a way that honors His call to love and holiness.