I TAKE NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF A WICKED MAN

FRIDAY 1ST WEEK OF LENT Universalis
Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it
Reading Ezekiel 18:21-28
I prefer to see the wicked man renounce his wickedness and live

Thus says the Lord: 

‘If the wicked man renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws and is law-abiding and honest, he will certainly live; he will not die. All the sins he committed will be forgotten from then on; he shall live because of the integrity he has practised. What! Am I likely to take pleasure in the death of a wicked man – it is the Lord who speaks – and not prefer to see him renounce his wickedness and live?

‘But if the upright man renounces his integrity, commits sin, copies the wicked man and practises every kind of filth, is he to live? All the integrity he has practised shall be forgotten from then on; but this is because he himself has broken faith and committed sin, and for this he shall die. But you object, “What the Lord does is unjust.” Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust? When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.’

Responsorial Psalm: If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive

Gospel Matthew 5:20-26 Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. CDR

‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. 

So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.’

My God, compassionate Father, have mercy of me. Father you take no pleasure in the death of a sinner, nor the wicked. Create in me a pure heart. May your Holy Spirit abide in me. Father if you should mark our guilt, who would survive, you are rich in mercy, and forgiving. Be merciful to me Lord. Transform me.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Come Holy Spirit dwell in me. Blessed Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels and Saints pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me. Protect and guide me.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Hail Mary full of grace. Ave Maria.

Meditate on the Stations of the Cross: We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed our world.

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