March 11, 2022 – Friday of the First Week of Lent

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031122.cfm)

 Is it enough to only do what is comfortable for me? Is it enough to show to others that I am charitable? Is it enough to do what is required of being good and being pious? Is it enough that I stay neutral on moral issues? Is it enough to stay unconcerned and indifferent as long as I do not hurt others or do bad things to people? Is it really enough to always be and do what is only minimum?

It won’t be enough at all. It is neither enough to do what is only comfortable for us, nor to do what is only required for us, nor to stay neutral on moral issues, nor to stay unconcerned and indifferent as long as we do not hurt and do bad things to people. Yes, it is not enough to be and to do what is only minimum.

The Lord calls all of us today, “unless you surpass the righteousness of the Lawyers and the Pharisees, then, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

Without condemning these people, who were the Jewish Lawyers and Pharisees, Jesus wants us to realize something beyond the usual actions of these people and to become righteous, good and religious beyond what is minimum, beyond what is required by law.

Indeed, the Jewish lawyers and the Pharisees were more inclined in focusing on the letters of the law. This means that these people were more concerned of following trivial things in the Jewish Law. However, this kind of attitude prevented them to be compassionate to others and to be more expressive of mercy to the sinners, the sick and the poor.

Jesus gave a practical challenge to his disciples, an action that expresses mercy and compassion. Jesus calls for “Reconciliation” and “Reparation” of the damage that we have caused to others. To be reconciled with the person whom we have hurt and those who have hurt us, expresses the essence of this Season of Lent.

Lent invites us to look closely at our failures and sins and to recognize them. Yet, we do not stop at the recognition of sin. We do not stop in saying “I am sorry.” However, we step forward by making peace, by reconciling ourselves with others, by doing the right thing, by paying and repairing the damage we have don and doing what God desires us to do.

God calls us to go beyond from what is only easy and comfortable for us. let us remember, that it is a temptation to settle to what is only minimal and become complacent and indifferent towards others. True enough, it is very easy  for us to continue what we are doing. We could just go to the Church and attend mass, pray our rosary and novena, and go for a regular confession and give our alms to the poor. However, our heart could still remain unmoved by the many social issues that surround us or remain indifferent to the needs of people around us and still does the same sins over and over again.

Today, Jesus invites us to be more expressive of our faith that does count and does not settle to what is only comfortable, easy and minimum. May our faith, our devotion and our love for God and for others give us the courage to do more and be more. Hinaut pa.