Friday March 11, 2022
Read: Ezekial 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26
Chapter 18 emphasizes taking personal responsibility for ones actions. He extoles all things that are considered sinful and the only way to forgiveness is confessing your sins to God in order to live. If one does not take responsibility, if one continues to sin, then the outcome will surely be death. If not death of the physical self, it certainly would mean death of your spirit and knowing one will not be able to enter the Kingdom of God when they die.
In Matthew, Jesus takes thing a step above. It's not just our actions that can be sinful, but also our words. This is something all of us can identify with. Many priests and pastors use some form of Psalm 19:14 before beginning their homily. The pastor at my former church would always use it before speaking, offering his heart to Jesus so that his words would speak only of love and faith. Wouldn't it be nice if we could do this before we speak, especially when we are angry? We can't take back what was said. But, we can ask forgiveness, both from Jesus and from the person we hurt. It's not an easy thing to do. It requires great strength and humility. You will be a better person for doing this, though.
At the end of the day, take stock of your actions AND your words. Do they speak of love or hate? What does this say about you? What changes can you make? Bring your wrong doings to the foot of the Cross and ask forgiveness, then try to do better tomorrow. We are imperfect beings of a perfect God.
Be Blessed and speak life, hope and love.
Here's a video from Toby Mac about speaking life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeBv9r92VQ0&ab_channel=TobyMacVEVO
And for further insight to today's reading, here's another video from Father Bill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-bKutiG584&ab_channel=hsccwyo
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