Readings: Ezekiel 18: 21-28; Psalm 130; Matthew 5:20-26
Ezekiel calls on the people of Israel to persevere in doing good and not slide back into doing wrong. And according to Jesus the discernment of good and evil happens deep within our hearts. More than merely keeping the law, we actively seek to do some positive good.
We are called not only to avoid doing wrong, but we are required to do good, to work on building up relationships of love and concern for one another. It is important to mend fences, before we can properly relate to God. Before offering sacrifice, Jesus says, “Leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” Bridge-building, Peace-making comes first, then we can worship.
Reconciliation begins when we want to heal the offence we have caused, and it begins in the heart. We can join together in praise of God, and in celebrating the Eucharist in good conscience, only when we have that intention. This is also Ezekiel’s message.
But here’s the question: Can we consistently rise to this ideal of doing the right thing? Yes, but only by the grace of God, only if God gives us a new heart. Ezekiel says that whatever we have done in the past, God will renew us if we turn back to him. We hear God answer that question, saying: “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked … not rather that they should turn from their ways and live?!”
Jesus invites us to go even further in doing the will of God. He asks for a deeper virtue than merely to avoid breaking the Old Law that said, “You shall not murder”. But Jesus goes far beyond to help change attitudes that lead people to injure each other. He wants to heal our underlying passions. For this, we need radical renewal of our very self, a “conversion” of mind and heart. We need the Holy Spirit to transform our outlook. One of my favourite prayers expresses it well: “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love.” During Lent we call on the Holy Spirit to stir up in us the sort of love that was lived by Jesus and that is expected of all God’s children.