Friday after Ash
Wednesday
(Isaiah 58:1-9a; Matthew 9:14-15)
When we were children, my sister, brother, and I would
ask our mother what she wanted for her birthday or Christmas. She invariably answered, “Good kids.” Her response is not much different from God’s
in today’s first reading.
The Jews want to court God’s favor. They think that by prayer and fasting he
might be won over to their side. They
see God as a politician sees a rich person whose money she needs. They
do not understand that God is more like a Father who wants his children to love
one another. He announces what he
expects of them -- mercy and justice. God is especially concerned that the needs of
the weakest among them be looked after.
We should consider Lent a time of inventory and
reconciliation. We want to ask ourselves
how have we treated others and make amends where we are lacking. By “others” we should not think only of those
whose paths we cross daily. The
indeterminate category should include people of other nations.
