Reading I
Is 1:10, 16-20
Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!
Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!
Gospel
Mt 23:1-12
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Meditation: Isaiah 1:10,16-20
Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord. (Isaiah 1:18)
As God looked at the people of Jerusalem, he saw rebelliousness, injustice, hardness of heart, and the desolation that such attitudes bring upon any people. Moved by what he saw, he called the prophet Isaiah to speak his heart’s cry: “Let us set things right!” Come and be cleansed, he pleaded; come and receive healing, restoration, freedom.
Let us set things right! This was the refrain even when Adam and Eve disobeyed. God did not give them up to sin. Instead, he quickly promised them salvation. And from that moment on, in human suffering and war, in rejection of the Lord and rebellion, in exile and slavery, God’s call remained constant. Return to me. Allow me to remove the walls that separate us. Let me forgive and wash you clean.
God’s desire remains the same today! In fact, you don’t have to wait for a special time to reconcile with the Lord. You can come to him every day and “set things right.” All you need to do is take time each evening to review your day and seek the Lord’s forgiveness for any sins you may have committed. Before you go to bed, reflect on your thoughts and actions that day and bring to the Lord any ways in which you have missed the mark. And if something serious comes up, you can tell the Lord about it and make sure you get to Confession as soon as possible. It is so freeing to “clear the decks” every evening. It can even help you get a good night’s sleep!
There’s no time like the present to start. Quiet your heart, and listen closely. You will hear the Lord calling you, urging you: “Come, let us set things right!”
We think that Lent is all about our turning back to the Lord in repentance. But Lent is also about God reaching out to us, offering us a torrent of healing love and merciful grace. It’s about God doing everything in his power to “set things right” with us. Remember this when you examine your conscience: God is seeking after you, and he is ready to work miracles in your life!
“Father, I stand in wonder at your willingness to welcome your people home! Even when I fall, you stand with arms outstretched, welcoming me back. Lord, your love truly is amazing!”
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