Daily Retreat 03/06/09
2009 Mar 6 Fri: Lenten Weekday.
Ez 18: 21-28/ Ps 129(130): 1-2. 3-4. 5-7a. 7bc-8/ Mt 5: 20-26
From today’s readings: “Hear now, house of Israel: Is it My way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?...If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?...I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. ”
Who’s not fair?
“It’s not fair!” is the battle cry of those who perceive a violation of justice, and in cases of objective injustice, the iniquity should certainly be addressed. But there are also cases of subjective unfairness, when the injustice only exists in the mind of the one raising the complaint.
All that God has decreed must be recognized as completely just and as the most objective standard, so those who would complain that God isn’t living up to their own standards of fairness are engaged in the folly of presuming to judge God, who is all-just!
Through the prophet Ezekiel, God explains His justice: to his very last breath, the sinner has the opportunity to repent of sins and be embraced by God’s forgiveness. This is the very best of the Good News! On the other hand, even a virtuous man can commit a mortal sin and forfeit eternal life (this is yet another warning against the sin of presumption, since this dreadful possibility must be admitted as a consequence of the reality of free will). In other words, for better or for worse, it’s not too late to change! May this day, and every day remaining in our lives, be recorded as days on which you and I turned away from sin and committed ourselves to keeping God’s commandments and doing what is right and just!
Ez 18: 21-28/ Ps 129(130): 1-2. 3-4. 5-7a. 7bc-8/ Mt 5: 20-26
From today’s readings: “Hear now, house of Israel: Is it My way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?...If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?...I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. ”
Who’s not fair?
“It’s not fair!” is the battle cry of those who perceive a violation of justice, and in cases of objective injustice, the iniquity should certainly be addressed. But there are also cases of subjective unfairness, when the injustice only exists in the mind of the one raising the complaint.
All that God has decreed must be recognized as completely just and as the most objective standard, so those who would complain that God isn’t living up to their own standards of fairness are engaged in the folly of presuming to judge God, who is all-just!
Through the prophet Ezekiel, God explains His justice: to his very last breath, the sinner has the opportunity to repent of sins and be embraced by God’s forgiveness. This is the very best of the Good News! On the other hand, even a virtuous man can commit a mortal sin and forfeit eternal life (this is yet another warning against the sin of presumption, since this dreadful possibility must be admitted as a consequence of the reality of free will). In other words, for better or for worse, it’s not too late to change! May this day, and every day remaining in our lives, be recorded as days on which you and I turned away from sin and committed ourselves to keeping God’s commandments and doing what is right and just!
posted by FrPitstick | 2/27/2009
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