March 14, 2014

Reading

The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel     18: 21-28

18:21	But if the impious man does penance for all his sins which he has committed, and if he keeps all my precepts, and accomplishes judgment and justice, then he shall certainly live, and he shall not die.
18:22	I will not remember all his iniquities, which he has worked; by his justice, which he has worked, he shall live.
18:23	How could it be my will that an impious man should die, says the Lord God, and not that he should be converted from his ways and live?
18:24	But if a just man turns himself away from his justice, and does iniquity in accord with all the abominations that the impious man so often does, why should he live? All his justices, which he has accomplished, shall not be remembered. By the transgression, in which he has transgressed, and by his sin, in which he has sinned, by these he shall die.
18:25	And you have said, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Therefore, listen, O house of Israel. How could it be that my way is not fair? And is it not instead your ways that are perverse?
18:26	For when the just man turns himself away from his justice, and commits iniquity, he shall die by this; by the injustice that he has worked, he shall die.
18:27	And when the impious man turns himself away from his impiety, which he has done, and accomplishes judgment and justice, he shall cause his own soul to live.
18:28	For by considering and turning himself away from all his iniquities, which he has worked, he shall certainly live, and he shall not die.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Matthew 5: 20-26

5:20 For I say to you, that unless your justice has surpassed that of the scribes and the Pharisees you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

5:21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not murder; whoever will have murdered shall be liable to judgment.’

5:22 But I say to you, that anyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. But whoever will have called his brother, ‘Idiot,’ shall be liable to the council. Then, whoever will have called him, ‘Worthless,’ shall be liable to the fires of Hell.

5:23 Therefore, if you offer your gift at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,

5:24 leave your gift there, before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then you may approach and offer your gift.

5:25 Be reconciled with your adversary quickly, while you are still on the way with him, lest perhaps the adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown in prison.

5:26 Amen I say to you, that you shall not go forth from there, until you have repaid the last quarter.