Meditation
for Friday of the First Week of Lent
(Ezekiel
18:21-28; Mt 5:20-26)
The Lenten journey is a favourable opportunity
for us to repent. The Lenten observances energize us
to move away from sin and remain in righteousness. Prophet Ezekiel reminds us
today about the consequences of sin, which is death. But he announces the good
news of a gracious opportunity by which the death sentence is cancelled for
those who repent of their sins. God created man to live; “Have I any pleasure
in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that he should
turn from his way and live?” But if a righteous man abandons his good ways and
embraces evil, he shall die. Thus, we are responsible for our choices for the ‘present’
and ‘future’ of our lives.
Human life is not static; it is dynamic, evolving and in ‘motion’. We can either move forward into the ‘future of God’ through righteous living, or we move backwards to nothingness through sin. The direction we take at this crossroad of life depends on the kind of ‘energy’ we allowed to accumulate in our hearts and minds. Think about things that influence your daily choices! What are the values that determine your responses to life situations? There is always a hidden INTENT that motivates our actions...
In urging us to repent and choose life, we are being asked to purge our hearts of sinful intents, and energize it with sentiments of righteousness. Hence, Jesus told His disciples that the righteousness that leads to eternal life must not be on the surface like that of the scribes and Pharisees. The righteousness that gives eternal life flows from the depths of the hearts. That is why whoever bears anger in his heart shall be liable to judgement, under that law that says, “You shall not kill.” So, the heart must be purged of every unrighteous sentiment. This is mostly important because it is from the heart that our prayers and offerings find favour before God.
God’s plan for us is that we may live, and He has given us every grace in Christ Jesus to conquer death. In Jesus, the righteous Man who ought to live took upon Himself the death of the wicked man, who ought to die! Therefore, the sinful can cross over to righteousness and live; the dead can rise to life! And through the Sacraments of the Church, Jesus gives us effective means of purifying our hearts that our lives may flourish. Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Friday February 26th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
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