Friday, week 1 of Lent

Thus speaks the Lord God:
If the wicked turns away from all the sins he has committed,
if he observes all my statutes,
if he acts with justice and righteousness,
he shall surely live; he shall not die.
None of the crimes he committed
will be remembered against him:
he shall live because of the righteousness he has practiced.
Would I take pleasure in the death of the wicked
– oracle of the Lord God –,
and not rather that he turns from his way
and lives?
But if the righteous turns away from his righteousness and does evil
by imitating all the abominations of the wicked,
would he do this and live?
None of the righteousness he had practiced
will be remembered:
because of his unfaithfulness and his sin,
he shall die!
And yet you say:
"The way of the Lord is not just."
Listen then, house of Israel:
is it my way that is not just?
Is it not rather yours?
If the righteous turns away from his righteousness,
commits evil, and dies in that state,
it is because of his evil that he shall die.
If the wicked turns away from his wickedness
to practice justice and righteousness,
he will save his life.
He has opened his eyes
and turned away from his crimes.
Surely, he shall live; he shall not die.

– The word of the Lord.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,
Lord, hear my call!
Let your ear be attentive
to the voice of my prayer!

If you keep account of sins, Lord,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you is found forgiveness
so that man may revere you.

I hope in the Lord with all my soul;
I hope in him, and I wait for his word.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than a watchman for daybreak.

Yes, with the Lord is love;
with him abounds redemption.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its sins.

At that time,
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you this:
Unless your righteousness exceeds that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to those of old:
You shall not kill,
and whoever kills
will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you:
Anyone who is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment.
Whoever insults his brother
will be liable to the council;
whoever calls him a fool
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
So, if you are offering your gift at the altar
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar,
first go and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Make friends quickly with your adversary
while you are on the way with him,
lest your adversary hand you over to the judge,
the judge to the guard,
and you be thrown into prison.
Truly I say to you:
you will not get out
until you have paid the last penny."

– Let us acclaim the word of God.