Daily Readings - Fri Mar 06 2020
Ezekiel
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
Matthew
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
In today’s readings, Ezekiel and Matthew guide us to reflect on the essence of true justice and reconciliation. Ezekiel emphasizes that our actions have consequences, urging us to turn from sin to life through repentance. He highlights God’s mercy and the importance of living justly. In Matthew, Jesus expands on the commandment against murder, teaching that even anger and hurtful words have spiritual ramifications. He calls us to reconcile with others before worshiping God, stressing the urgency of resolving conflicts.
Both readings underscore personal responsibility and the transformative power of our choices. Ezekiel’s message of repentance aligns with Matthew’s call to reconcile, illustrating that true justice involves both internal transformation and external actions. Together, they remind us that living justly is not just about outward deeds but also about the state of our hearts.
In our daily lives, let us examine our consciences and seek reconciliation where needed. May we strive to live with integrity, treating others with kindness and respect, and may our actions reflect the justice and mercy of God.