The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine our way of assessing our righteousness and our Way of seeking reconciliation and healing with people we have not treated as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The reading from the Prophet Ezekiel highlights our personal responsibility.
* [18:25] The LORD’s way is not fair: this chapter rejects the idea that punishment is transferred from one generation to the next and emphasizes individual responsibility and accountability. (Ezekiel, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)
Psalm 130 prays while waiting for Divine Redemption.
* [Psalm 130] This lament, a Penitential Psalm, is the De profundis used in liturgical prayers for the faithful departed. In deep sorrow the psalmist cries to God (Ps 130:1–2), asking for mercy (Ps 130:3–4). The psalmist’s trust (Ps 130:5–6) becomes a model for the people (Ps 130:7–8). (Psalms, PSALM 130, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches concerning anger.
* [5:22–26] Reconciliation with an offended brother is urged in the admonition of Mt 5:23–24 and the parable of Mt 5:25–26 (//Lk 12:58–59). The severity of the judge in the parable is a warning of the fate of unrepentant sinners in the coming judgment by God.
* [5:22] Anger is the motive behind murder, as the insulting epithets are steps that may lead to it. They, as well as the deed, are all forbidden. Raqa: an Aramaic word rēqā’ or rēqâ probably meaning “imbecile,” “blockhead,” a term of abuse. The ascending order of punishment, judgment (by a local council?), trial before the Sanhedrin, condemnation to Gehenna, points to a higher degree of seriousness in each of the offenses. Sanhedrin: the highest judicial body of Judaism. Gehenna: in Hebrew gê-hinnōm, “Valley of Hinnom,” or gê ben-hinnōm, “Valley of the son of Hinnom,” southwest of Jerusalem, the center of an idolatrous cult during the monarchy in which children were offered in sacrifice (see 2 Kgs 23:10; Jer 7:31). In Jos 18:16 (Septuagint, Codex Vaticanus) the Hebrew is transliterated into Greek as gaienna, which appears in the New Testament as geenna. The concept of punishment of sinners by fire either after death or after the final judgment is found in Jewish apocalyptic literature (e.g., Enoch 90:26) but the name geenna is first given to the place of punishment in the New Testament. (Matthew, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Steve Scholer comments that becoming a more virtuous person is not a one-time event, like winning a Super Bowl, but rather a journey that lasts a lifetime. And the path is all too often crooked, choked with weeds and uphill.
Unfortunately, God didn’t prepare a list of the traits one must possess to live a virtuous life. Rather, within the Bible are passages that illustrate the kinds of traits that a person of virtue should stive for. As we read the Bible and reacquaint ourselves with them, let’s put them into practice, so we become more Christ-like in all we do and say, and open our hearts and minds to his calling and the power to make this a better world.
As we continue in these early days of Lent, let’s commit to getting to know God better. To spend more time reading the Bible. To invite the Holy Spirit into our lives each day with the hope that by acknowledging his presence, we can come to understand what it means to be Christ-like and work to emulate him in our thoughts, words and deeds.
If we allow Christ to lead us, then the path will be made straight, and we can live a virtuous life that gives honor to our Lord. (Scholer, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Are you ashamed to ask pardon?” by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"How many there are who know that they have sinned against their brothers or sisters and yet are unwilling to say: 'Forgive me.' They were not ashamed to sin, but they are ashamed to ask pardon. They were not ashamed of their evil act, but they blush where humility is concerned." (excerpt from Sermon 211,4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 5:20-26 comments that there is simply no way around it. We have to forgive. It may sound too demanding, but remember Jesus and the mercy he has shown to us. He has a storehouse of love to make up for our lack. He can help us when our hearts are hard or bitter.
Oftentimes, forgiveness happens over time and in gradual layers—and Jesus knows that. He is not as concerned with whether we have forgiven everyone completely as he is concerned that we keep our hearts soft and ask him for the grace to be a bit more merciful each day. So take one more step today toward being reconciled with your brothers and sisters! Let the love of Christ fill you so that you can give that same love and mercy to all the people in your life.
“Lord Jesus, only you can mend broken hearts and heal wounded souls. Make me whole by the power of your Spirit. Give me the grace to forgive.” (Meditation on Matthew 5:20-26, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the message of the passage from Ezekiel that our relationship with God is not commercial where we store up a reservoir of good deeds. Jesus expands the Law concerning killing in a spiritual way that recognizes many ways to destroy people. Friar Jude connects the passage to purgation that heals the brokenness caused by our sin.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, talks about the temptations Jesus faced in his own desert experience.
The first temptation is to misuse power. Maybe we could say it’s a temptation to be spectacular, to be special, to be important, to be showy. The tempter says, “Tell these stones to become bread” (Matthew 4:3). When we’re young, we all want that. We all want to stand out. We want people to notice us. We want to be something special and to do something special, but Jesus refuses to play the game.
Then a second temptation: “The devil took him to the Holy City and made him stand on the very pinnacle of the Temple” (Matthew 4:5), and tells Jesus to throw himself down. The second great temptation is to misuse religion by playing games with God. Jesus says, “I’m not going to play the religious game either.” It’s transactional religion as opposed to transformational. But what religion is about is real transformation. Changing our mind toward love, changing our heart toward community, changing our body toward living in the present moment.
The third temptation is the temptation to political power. It’s not inherently wrong. There has to be a way we can use power for good. But until we’re tested, and until we don’t need it too much, we will almost always misuse it. If we’re not tested in the ways of power, very often we end up worshiping power to have power. (Rohr, 2023)
We tend to place ourselves in the centre of our attention even as the Spirit prompts us to live in relationships that focus on the good and needs of others.
References
Ezekiel, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/18?21
Matthew, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?20
Meditation on Matthew 5:20-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/03/624898/
Psalms, PSALM 130. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/130
Rohr, R. (2023, March 3). Testing in the Desert — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/testing-in-the-desert-2023-03-03/
Scholer, S. (2023, March 3). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/030323.html
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Be Angry, Be Reconciled. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar3
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