FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT - Gospel (Matthew 5:20-26) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny”. (Mt 5:26)

FIRST READING - Ez 18:21-28

A reading from the Book of Ezekiel

Thus says the Lord GOD:

If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,

if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,

he shall surely live, he shall not die.

None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;

he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.

Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?

says the Lord GOD.

Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way

that he may live?

And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,

the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,

can he do this and still live?

None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,

because he has broken faith and committed sin;

because of this, he shall die.

You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!”

Hear now, house of Israel:

Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?

When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,

it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.

But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,

does what is right and just,

he shall preserve his life;

since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed,

he shall surely live, he shall not die.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 5:20-26

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I tell you,

unless your righteousness surpasses that

of the scribes and Pharisees,

you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,

You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.

But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother

will be liable to judgment,

and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,

will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,

and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,

and there recall that your brother

has anything against you,

leave your gift there at the altar,

go first and be reconciled with your brother,

and then come and offer your gift.

Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.

Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,

and the judge will hand you over to the guard,

and you will be thrown into prison.

Amen, I say to you,

you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT - Gospel (Matthew 5:20-26)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In today's Word of God, Jesus teaches His disciples of the past and present, that is, shepherds, those who live a consecrated life and all those who are faithful and loyal to Him must live righteously before God; do not live falsely, hypocritically in outward appearance like the scribes and Pharisees of old. Those who are blessed by God and revealed by Him of His works and plans must live according to His teachings; otherwise, they will have to answer before God for their sins many times more than those who have not been revealed to them by God.

Today's Word of God says that Jesus came to earth to perfect the law. He made the old law more perfect. Therefore, not a single dot or stroke can change it, that is: to enter the Kingdom of God, one must live according to His teachings; especially one must live by the word: 'love'.

Today, God teaches humanity that while we still have the opportunity to live on earth, we are on a journey to God, so we should live with love, forgiveness, humility, and self-abasement before God and reconcile with our brothers and sisters.

According to God, to enter His Kingdom of Heaven, one must have a pure, innocent soul with a loving heart; because in God - the Merciful One, there can be no jealousy, envy, hatred, or arrogance. Also, God warns humanity that if anyone commits sin, if anyone still harbors hatred towards our brothers and sisters, we will have to pay for our sins for a long time, in eternal purgatory, not knowing when our sins will be cleared to enter His Kingdom of Heaven.

So while still living on earth, there is still a chance, that we should listen to and live according to the teachings of God; do not ignore His Word, because the Word of God is the most perfect Word in this world, the Word is Spirit and Life. There is no word, no lesson that teaches wisdom as the Word of Jesus taught in the Bible, and there is no Word that teaches as kindly, thoughtfully, thoroughly, and full of love as the Real Word of God for each person who comes to God the Father through the angel that was chosen by Him.

God loves humankind. He shows us how to live to enter the Kingdom of Heaven; whoever is wise will live and follow His teachings, so that later we will not regret, and will not have to pay for our sins in purgatory and hell. Because God is very fair and just, even if we commit a very small sin, we will have to pay for it. Therefore, in every moment of every day of life, we should try to live well according to His teachings, so that later we will not have to answer before God.

Today, God calls on humanity to keep our hearts pure and innocent before God and live in love and harmony with your brothers; do not harbor hatred or jealousy; because God will suddenly call anyone out of this world, and no one knows in advance that death will come to them.

God also revealed that in purgatory and hell, souls are suffering because they are paying for their sins, hatred, and jealousy.

God loves mankind, He warns us to be aware so that we will be resolved to return to God, return to live, and put into practice His teachings, to have eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven in the future.

Thanks be to God. Amen.