Tuesday, February 23 2016 Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Reading 1 Is 1:10, 16-20

Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

Responsorial Psalm PS 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Verse Before the Gospel Ez 18:31

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Gospel Mt 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

REFLECTION 

"BE RECONCILED TO GOD!" (2 Cor 5:20)

"Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord: though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow." –Isaiah 1:18

The Pharisees and Sadducees had hearts for their own honor. Before Jesus chastised them for their pride, He wept over them, lamenting that in their desire for honors, they had completely missed "the path to peace" (Lk 19:42). Moreover, their pride caused them to be badly misled and fail to understand the power of God (Mk 12:24). God's plan is to touch the hearts of sinful men and women with self-sacrificing, humble love.

Lent is the season to humble our pride and bow before the Lord. One of the best ways to do this is to make a sincere, truthful Lenten Confession. In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on this night for the last several years, every Church opened its doors for Confession from 7-9PM. Surely many returned to the Lord (Jl 2:13) in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Lord Jesus opens His arms wide to embrace His people. Our sins cannot keep His love away; it's only our stiff-necked pride that keeps Him at arms-length.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord (1 Pt 5:6). Confess your sins to Him (Ps 32:5). Receive His forgiveness, love, and peace. "Make things right" and be washed clean.

PRAYER:	Father, may I make any changes necessary to be reconciled to You before this day is over.
PROMISE:	"Cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim."–Is 1:16-17
PRAISE:	St. Polycarp was condemned to die by burning at the stake as a martyr. God protected him from the burning flames (see Is 43:2), so his executioners were forced to stab him to death.

| 

Like • Comment • Share