The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to act on the injustice we witness and stand with Christ to help the “widows and orphans” of our political and social systems.
In the reading from the Prophet Isaiah, the people are instructed to set things right.
* [1:2–31] This chapter is widely considered to be a collection of oracles from various periods in Isaiah’s ministry, chosen by the editor as a compendium of his most characteristic teachings.
* [1:18–20] Let us set things right: the Hebrew word refers to the arbitration of legal disputes (Jb 23:7). God offers to settle his case with Israel on the basis of the change of behavior demanded above. For Israel it is a life or death choice; life in conformity with God’s will or death for continued disobedience.
(Isaiah, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 50 praises the Acceptable Sacrifice
* [Psalm 50] A covenant lawsuit stating that the sacrifice God really wants is the sacrifice of praise accompanied by genuine obedience (cf. Mi 6:1–8). It begins with a theophany and the summoning of the court (Ps 50:1–6). Then in direct address God explains what is required of the faithful (Ps 50:7–15), rebukes the hypocritical worshiper (Ps 50:16–21), and concludes with a threat and a promise (Ps 50:22–23; cf. Is 1:19–20).(Psalms, PSALM 50 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees.
* [23:1–39] The final section of the narrative part of the fifth book of the gospel is a denunciation by Jesus of the scribes and the Pharisees (see note on Mt 3:7). It depends in part on Mark and Q (cf. Mk 12:38–39; Lk 11:37–52; 13:34–35), but in the main it is peculiar to Matthew. (For the reasons against considering this extensive body of sayings-material either as one of the structural discourses of this gospel or as part of the one that follows in Mt 24–25, see note on Mt 19:1–23:39.) While the tradition of a deep opposition between Jesus and the Pharisees is well founded, this speech reflects an opposition that goes beyond that of Jesus’ ministry and must be seen as expressing the bitter conflict between Pharisaic Judaism and the church of Matthew at the time when the gospel was composed. The complaint often made that the speech ignores the positive qualities of Pharisaism and of its better representatives is true, but the complaint overlooks the circumstances that gave rise to the invective. Nor is the speech purely anti-Pharisaic. The evangelist discerns in his church many of the same faults that he finds in its opponents and warns his fellow Christians to look to their own conduct and attitudes.(Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB, n.d.)
Sara Schulte-Bukowinski comments that Lent is a time for introspection, simplicity, and sacrifice.
It is a time to ask God to help me turn my heart yet again, and reform me in God’s own ways. In this season I am reminded that a middle ground is more difficult than an extreme. It doesn’t have the gratifying self-righteousness of absolute discipline, or the gratifying luxury of self-indulgence. The middle doesn’t feel “washed clean.” Yet this is where I believe God meets us. (Schulte-Bukowinski, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Who are the proud?” by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Who are the proud? Those who do not perform penance and confess their sins in order to be healed through humility. Who are the proud? Those who attribute to themselves the few good qualities they seem to possess and endeavor to diminish the mercy of God. Who are the proud? Those who, while attributing to God the good they accomplish, insult others for not performing such works and raise themselves above them." (Commentary on Psalm 93, 15)(Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 asks how are you going to love your neighbor during this Lent? Maybe you can help in the soup kitchen at your parish or donate some of your clothes to the needy. The options are endless!
During this season in which we turn our hearts to the Lord, let’s make it a priority to love our neighbor. Let’s make justice our aim so that “the orphan’s plea” does not go unnoticed and “the widow” does not remain alone (Isaiah 1:17). Let’s imitate Jesus’ love so that we can produce the fruit of joy, peace, and mercy.
“Lord, help me to turn my heart to you by loving others as you love me!”
(Meditation on Isaiah 1:10, 16-20, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes how the early chapters of Isaiah address social injustice referring to widows and orphans in a manner similar to Amos. The “loose and bind” power of the Pharisees had become an over-scrupulous interpretation of the Law and presentation of their position in their visible tassels and phylacteries. Friar Jude reminds us of the message to be humble and avoid pride and arrogance.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Biblical scholar Ched Myers who writes of the prominence of immigrants in the Scriptures. The Gospel writers portray Jesus as a refugee in need of hospitality.
The gospel story begins with Jesus’ family fleeing violence as political refugees, pushed around Palestine by the imperial forces of Caesar and Herod (Matthew 2; Luke 2). The adult Jesus not only characterizes himself as homeless (“the Human One has nowhere to lay his head,” Luke 9:58), but stateless. “My kingdom is not of this world,” he says before the Roman procurator (John 18:36). The evangelists also portray Jesus as a constant recipient of hospitality who sometimes even “invites himself in” (see, for example, Luke 19:5). [2] (Richard Rohr, n.d.)
We witness the persecution of the “other” as rampant in our world and implore the Spirit to arouse our courage and faith to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and rejected.
References
Isaiah, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/1?10
Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23?1
Meditation on Isaiah 1:10, 16-20. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/03/18/1228702/
Psalms, PSALM 50 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/50?8
Richard Rohr. (n.d.). Welcoming Strangers in Scripture. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/welcoming-strangers-in-scripture/
Schulte-Bukowinski, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/031825.html
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings. dailyscripture.net. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=mar18
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