Daily Readings - Fri Feb 23 2024
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
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the nature of justice, repentance, and the importance of our actions and intentions. In Ezekiel, we hear a message of hope and responsibility. The prophet emphasizes that God’s justice is fair and that each individual is accountable for their choices. Ezekiel makes it clear that repentance can lead to life, while stubbornness in sin leads to death. This passage was directed to the Israelites during the Babylonian exile, addressing their misconception that God was unfair. Ezekiel clarifies that true justice lies in personal moral choices and the opportunity for repentance.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further in His Sermon on the Mount. He teaches that righteousness must come from the heart, beyond mere outward compliance with the law. Jesus expands the commandment against murder to include even anger and insults, highlighting the importance of reconciling with others before offering worship. This teaching underscores that true righteousness involves inner virtues like love, mercy, and reconciliation, not just adherence to rules.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in our actions and attitudes. We are called to examine our hearts, seek reconciliation, and live justly. Let us strive to cultivate a heart that seeks peace and love, remembering that true righteousness is not just about following rules but about living compassionately and justly in our daily lives.