HOMILY OF FRIDAY, 1ST WEEK OF LENT — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: FIGHTING WRONG MOTIVATIONS
BY: Bishop Gerald M. Musa
Ezek 18:21-28; Psalm 129(130); Matt 5:20-26
The prophet Ezekiel corrects two wrong notions about sin and repentance. First, the notion that God does not give a second chance to sinners; second, the impression of God as Someone eager to arrest, judge, and condemn a sinner. The prophet says if a wicked man turns away from all his sins and does what is lawful and right, he shall be forgiven and save his life.
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On the contrary, when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it. God takes more pleasure in repentance than in the death of a sinner. What God expects is simple: Those who are not doing well should change and be better; those who are doing well should not be tired of doing what is right.
More still, Jesus teaches us how to tackle sin from the roots by fighting the motivations that lead to sin. In fighting the roots of sin, Jesus says we should not only avoid killing but also fight the root of killing, which is anger. He raises the bar of moralbehavior when he condemns all forms of ‘soft killing,’ which include insulting others. What is more, He challenges the offended not only to forgive but also to reach out to the offender for reconciliation. Can we reflect deeply, purify, and tackle the motivations that lead us to wrongdoing?
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