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Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful!
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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, March 10, 2006
Friday of the First Week of Lent


Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 18:21-28
Psalm 130:1-8
Matthew 5: 20-26

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

"But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment." (Mt.5:22)

Over the last half-century, Christian sects, to avoid offending sinners and keeping their pews filled, have suggested that Jesus' death was simply God's way of showing His love, that consequently our sins are now overlooked and automatically forgiven. This belief ignores God's justice and that sin is an abomination in His eyes. Being "created in His image" means we are to become as holy as He is holy; that as God's children we are to love one another as He loves us.

Lent calls us to repent of our sins, practice self-denial and reform our lives to more closely resemble the goodness of Christ. Jesus emphasizes our need to be holy in a degree surpassing that of the Pharisees and scribes if we wish to enter the kingdom of God. These men pridefully kept the letter of the law while ignoring its "spirit." Had they studied the law in God's light and love rather than just with their minds, they would have seen that its purpose was to show mankind how to live in perfect brotherhood. Jesus tells us that our primary concern should be to develop a forgiving heart. Recall that Christ bore no rancor against those who treated Him so cruelly; indeed, He asked His Father to forgive them.

The power of Christ's redemption is activated only by our loving forgiveness toward those who have injured us. Today's world is suffering from the effects of hatred and retribution between peoples and nations. Violence begets further violence. Only a universal practice of the forgiving and unconditional love that comes to us from God can create world peace.

Saving Lord, physically we are but clay destined to return to dust. But we give You thanks for breathing Your Spirit into us, making us into living souls able to share in Your divine life. Amen.

- Marie Bocko,
OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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