Friday of the First Week of Lent

Ezekiel 18:21-28 and Matthew 5:20-26

“But if a wicked man turns away from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.”

“Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

There are numerous times when reading scripture where we need to seek advice of biblical scholars and theologians to fully comprehend the words we are reading and how they can be applied to our daily life.  Well, today’s verse is probably one of the most straight-forward and simple readings in the entire bible.  And the message embodies the Lenten season – to find salvation, there isn’t a test of strength or an extreme challenge we must successfully conquer.  Instead, we simply must turn away for all sins and do what is lawful and right.  This passage is clear and simple that repentance leads to the path of salvations.  This is a powerful message since we all have moral compasses to help us as we navigate the Lenten path to redemption.

In the gospel of Matthew we read “if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

Even here the message is simple – God is more concerned with what is in our heart than our outward religious actions.  It is more important to clear the offense with your fellow human than to simply show up in church every Sunday.  During this Lenten season let us all remember that we clearly need to repent of the outward sins for which we have committed but with the Lord’s guidance we will also cleanse those sins held deep within our heart.

Daniel Meyer
Vice President for Enrollment Management