Friday of the First Week of Lent
(Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26)
Children have difficulty comprehending the message in today’s
reading from the prophet Ezekiel. They see
not forgiving the offense of someone who has always lived virtuously as
unfair. Before one agrees with them, she
should realize that children are, by definition, young. They don’t have a treasury of memories for
which continual thankfulness to God is due.
God will reject the sinner, even if he has priorly lived an exemplary
life, for not having expressed gratitude with increasing virtue.
Childishness is also behind the rebellion that causes a
person to call a brother or sister “fool.”
Children often act out when they do not get their way because they have
not yet learned how to control their emotions.
They think that they have a right to express what they feel inside. Maturing, especially under the guidance of
the Holy Spirit, should temper their rebellious ways.
The season of Lent aids the maturing process. It is a time of intense reflection on our
actions and our lives. We are to recall God’s
beneficence and to respond with gratitude. We are also to review our
relationships and to reconcile ourselves with anyone we have mistreated.
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