The first reading for mass is very beautiful and healing. The prophet Isaiah starts out by calling to mind the two wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Everyone knows that the inhabitants of these two cities lived extremely sinful lives. God was so angry with them because of their sins that he destroyed both of their cities. Just the name of their cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, will live in infamy because of the wicked nature of their sins. They were the worst sinners the people of that time period had ever heard of and yet, according to Isaiah, God was not focusing on their sins. God didn’t accuse them or condemn them at all. He wanted to heal them. He told the people:
“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.”
These words are absolutely beautiful. There is nothing that we can do that is forever cast in stone, if we are sorry for the sins that we have committed. People live with some pretty serious sins on their soul for many years sometimes, thinking that what they did was so bad that God could never forgive them. They committed the unforgivable sin. (As if there is such a thing. There is no sin that can not be forgiven except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.) In this reading, God did not focus on their evil deeds though, but told them that things could be set right again, if they were willing. No matter how bad they had messed up, it could be made right again. What they did wouldn’t be held against them forever, as long as they turned from their sins and from that point on, obeyed God.
The sacraments of baptism and confession are the most beautiful means that Christ gave to his people, to set things right again. Everyone deserves a fresh start. There are no exceptions to Christ’s forgiveness. He doesn’t pick and choose. As long as you admit your sin and you are sorry for it and will do your best not to do it again, Jesus will forgive you. If Jesus forgives you, then you stand acquitted before others too.
That wasn’t the case with the Pharisees in the gospel today though and the only reason why is because they didn’t believe they were sinners. They were clean, pure and perfect, at least publicly. They felt important and wanted everyone else to look up to them, because they were an important person. They wore fancy clothes too, in order to emphasize their importance, their prominent place in society. They loved their titles and to be looked up to by others. Do you know people like this in politics or in the business world? People that let their power, prestige and position in society to go to their heads?
The danger for us, both in small ways and large, is to avoid doing the same kind of things that the Pharisees did. Jesus said to, “do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.”
There are people who think a little too much of themselves because of their excellent education, their looks, or their ability to buy expensive jewelry and clothing, drive new cars and live in a luxurious home. However, there are also rulers, kings and presidents that are humble people that served the people they were put in charge of, rather than use them for their own purposes. Money and position in life isn’t the problem. People can be conceited over small things too. Children know this all too well.
Humility is something we all need to work on this Lent. God assures us in the first reading for mass that if we do, we can become pure, clean and new again. It all depends on our attitude. Many of us struggle with prideful tendencies no matter what our position in life is. Let us work harder to overcome ourselves and this deadly tendency, with the help of God’s grace this Lent.
Daily Mass Readings:
Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 / Psalm 50:8-9,16bc-17,21,23 / Matthew 23:1-12
