Friday of the
First Week of Lent
(Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26)
At a male spirituality retreat many of the participants
were recovering alcoholics. They had
decided previously to give their lives to a “Higher Power” as Alcoholics Anonymous
prefers to call God. Now the
participants were deepening their commitment to that Power. Although alcoholism is as much a medical as a
moral condition, AA at least does not deny that alcoholics have some responsibility
for the problems in which they find themselves. They must recognize that they
have hurt others by feeding their condition and take responsibility for not
falling into the habit again. Today’s
readings portray such people as on the road to sanctity.
Ezekiel announces that the Lord wills to save, and not
condemn, sinners. God is not going to free
them from responsibility of their sins but will urge them to reform. Their reward, the oracle says, will be “life.”
In the gospel Jesus teaches his
disciples that they must seek forgiveness from those they have offended if
their sin offering is to be worthy. It is
a lesson that resonates with that of the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those
who trespass against us.”
It is often hard to recognize our sins and even harder to
seek the forgiveness of others. Yet both
tasks are at the heart of Christian faith.
If we are going to walk with Jesus, we must humble ourselves by
recognizing our need for his reconciling company.
