First Friday of Lent

If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.  Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?

It is never too late for us to choose God over all else. There are many examples of great sinners who repent later in life or after committing terrible sins. St. Paul persecuted the early Church, but after his conversion he became a devoted preacher of the Good News. St. Augustine lived a life of sin, but after many years he came to hear the call of Christ and converted. Each of us is a sinner, some of us have sinned mortally, others venially, but whatever our offense, we still have the option to turn away from all our sins, keep God’s commandments, act justly, and live the Christ-like life. If we are truly contrite and repentant, then God the Father will forget what we have done because when He looks upon us He shall see the change the Holy Spirit has made in our hearts and His Beloved Son will ask for mercy for us as good and faithful servants. God does not want us to perish in the fires of Hell, He wants us to join Him in the paradise of Heaven. So let us take His Hand in hope of rising again and allow Him lift us up to eternal life.

 What are the sins that are keeping us from becoming good and faithful servants of God? How can we learn to keep all of God’s statutes and do what is right and just? How can we imitate God’s Mercy in our dealings with others?

O Lord, help us to turn away from all our sins and live in you.

Amen.