EZEKIEL 18:21-28; PSALM 129; MATTHEW 5:20-26
“I prefer to see the wicked man renounce his wickedness and live” The first reading reminds us that God does not rejoice in the death of a wicked man but in his conversion. Interior conversion pleases the Lord. What is rampart today can at best be described as exterior conversion – pretence. Ezekiel described exterior conversion as a righteous man who turns wicked. If his conversion was internal at the first place he will not turn from God to wickedness. Such a person is more disgusting in the sight of God than the one who never knew God. The Gospel reading strengthens this theme further when it says that our virtue must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees otherwise we shall not enter the kingdom of God. Therefore, to be a true convert we must cry out from the depth of our hearts like the Psalmist and be reconciled to both God and family.
LET US PRAY
Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful and forgive us. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned to our own ways; Saviour of the world, we humbly beseech you, by your most Sacred Heart; grant us interior conversion so that our Lenten observance may not be in vain. Amen.
