"Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the Lord, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit." This is the verse before the gospel at today's Mass.
In commanding us to cast away our "crimes" our "sins" our "transgressions" our "stubborn prejudices" our "faulty perspective" – the Lord is at the same time empowering us to make a new heart and a new spirit.
God the Father wants so much for his people to BE RENEWED – IN HEART AND IN SPIRIT!
In the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord says very clearly: "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 doe. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced."
There is a way for us to participate in our own redemption: by choosing to turn away from what our conscience, and from what God's word in Scripture tells us is not right and just!
In the gospel passage Jesus tells his disciples that "their righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, or else they will not enter the Kingdom of heaven." He tells them that just skimping by and observing the strict letter of the law will get them nowhere – it is going to the heart and discerning and living the spirit of the law that will give them life! Hence, "thou shall not kill" also now includes "thou shall not even be angry with your brother, or call him "Fool" – this goes to the heart of the law – this goes to the heart of the matter – this goes to the heart of redemption!
Jesus could have pricked his finger and shed his blood to save us from our sins: but he went to the heart of the matter – he went to the heart of the Crucifixion – he poured out his Sacred Blood and water from his pierced side after he hung dead, by murder – for us! By this unparalleled action our heart and our spirit can be renewed!
Today let us choose to live virtuously – let us choose to be appreciative of what you did for us on the Cross, Jesus – let us choose to cast from us all the crimes we have committed and to make for ourselves new hearts and new spirits - by going all the way – like you did!
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