Introduction
Often
we blame the community and “the system” for the evils of society and
for the sins we commit. This shrugging off of responsibility is a
timeless device of escape. Christ dealt with it and so did Ezekiel
before him. Ezekiel tells us: you are personally responsible for your
sins and you must repent; if so, God takes you back in his love. Jesus
tells us: not the law but your personal attitude and intention counts.
True worship does not consist in private, self-centered religious
practice but in being committed to Christ’s task of reconciliation
and service of people.
Opening
Prayer
God
of mercy and compassion,
you challenge us to be responsible
for the good and the evil we do
and you call us to conversion.
God, help us to face ourselves
that we may not use flimsy excuses
for covering up our wrongs.
Make us honest with ourselves,
and aware that we can always count on Jesus Christ
to be our guide and strength on the road to you,
now and for ever.
Liturgy
of the Word
First
Reading: Ezk 18:21-28
If
the sinner turns from his sin, observes my decrees and practices what
is right and just, he will live, he will not die. None of the sins
he committed will be charged against him; he will live as a consequence
of his righteous deeds. Do I want the death of the sinner? - word
of Yahweh. Do I not rather want him to turn from his ways and live?
But
if the righteous man turns away from what is good and commits sins
as the wicked do, will he live? His righteous deeds will no longer
be credited to him, but he will die because of his infidelity and
his sins.
But
you say: Yahweh's way is not just! Why, Israel! Is my position wrong?
Is it not rather that yours is wrong? If the righteous man dies after
turning from his righteous deeds and sinning, he dies because of his
sins. And if the wicked man does what is good and right, after turning
from the sins he committed, he will save his life. He will live and
not die, because he has opened his eyes and turned from the sins he
had committed.
Responsorial
Psalm: Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
R/.
(3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out
of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R/. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If
you, O Lord, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R/. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I
trust in the Lord;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the Lord.
R/. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
For
with the Lord is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R/. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Gospel
Reading: Mt 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you,
then, that if you are not righteous in a much broader way than the
teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, you cannot enter the kingdom
of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to our
people in the past: Do not commit murder; anyone who does kill will
have to face trial. But now I tell you: whoever gets angry with a
brother or sister will have to face trial. Whoever insults a brother
or sister deserves to be brought before the council; whoever humiliates
a brother or sister deserves to be thrown into the fire of hell. So,
if you are about to offer your gift at the altar and you remember
that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there
in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with him, and then
come back and offer your gift to God.
“Don’t forget this: be reconciled with your
opponent quickly when you are together on the way to court. Otherwise
he will turn you over to the judge, who will hand you over to the
police, who will put you in jail. There you will stay, until you have
paid the last penny.”
Commentary
WE
are comforted: if we who are sinners, turn and start to observe
and practice the decrees of God that are right and just, then we
will live. And we are told realistically that if we don't turn then
we will be charged with what we have done and the consequences of
our actions will be death. And we are told that if we have done
what is righteous and then turn from God and do evil, then we will
be judged accordingly. God is the God of life and wants us to live,
but it is we who do evil and bring death upon ourselves. We must
choose. Today and everyday, in each action and word, Jesus is clear.
We must be truthful and without violence in our words, our thoughts
and our actions. We cannot lie, plot revenge, murder, and allow
others to be killed or encourage others in violence or humiliate
anyone. If we do we cannot approach God or the altar of God. We
must make peace with one another before we expect to know the peace
of our God. O God, you are Justice. Be justice for us and call us
to account so that others may know your presence among us. Do not
let us continue in our sin but turn our hearts and ways to doing
justice in the world. Amen.
General
Intercessions
–
For the Church, that it may be a merciful Church that takes its task
of reconciliation seriously and keeps forgiving its erring members
with patience, we pray:
–
For all of us, that we dare to take the first step to forgive when
others have hurt us, we pray:
–
For our communities, that the eucharist may prompt us to forgive one
another and to care for people who go astray, we pray:
Prayer
over the Gifts
Merciful
Father,
your Son Jesus comes among us
to reconcile us with you.
May he stay with us
to carry out in the world
your mission of reconciling people
with you and with one another.
Give us the courage of the humility
to seek pardon and peace
from anyone we may have offended,
in the strength of Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord for ever.
Prayer
after Communion
Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
you ask us to be personally responsible
for our own deeds
and for our share in those of the community.
May this eucharistic celebration
be a source of insight and strength
to take up our tasks as followers of Jesus.
May our deeds match our words
and may we thus express
our thanks and love to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Resentment
and grudge-bearing is not for us Christians, however much we may have
been hurt. We are forgiven people, and therefore we should be forgiving
people, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
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