Friday of the First Week of Lent

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Ezekiel 18.21-28

Thus says the Lord GOD:
“If the wicked turn from all his sins
that he has committed,
and keep all my statutes,
and do that which is lawful and right,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of his transgressions
that he has committed
shall be remembered against him:
in his righteousness that he has done
he shall live.

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?”
says the Lord;
“Do I not rather that he should
turn back from his way and live?

But when the righteous
turns away from his righteousness,
and commits iniquity,
and does according to
all the abominations that the wicked man does,
shall he live?
None of his righteous deeds
that he has done shall be remembered:
in his trespass that he has trespassed,
and in his sin that he has sinned,
in them shall he die.

Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is my way not fair?
Are not your ways unfair?
When the righteous man
turns away from his righteousness,
and commits iniquity, and dies therein;
in his iniquity that he has done shall he die.
Again, when the wicked man
turns away from his wickedness
that he has committed,
and does that which is lawful and right,
he shall save his soul and live.
Because he considers,
and turns away
from all his transgressions
that he has committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Responsorial - Psalm 130.1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8 R. 3

R. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?

Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord.
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my petitions.

R. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
therefore you are feared.

R. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?

I wait for the Lord.
My soul waits. I hope in his word.
My soul longs for the Lord
more than watchmen long for the dawn;
Israel, hope in the Lord.

R. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?

For with the Lord there is loving kindness.
With him is abundant redemption.
He will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

R. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?

Gospel – Matthew 5.20-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
For I tell you that
unless your righteousness
exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees,
there is no way
you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
“You have heard
that it was said to the ancient ones,
‘You shall not murder;’ and
‘Whoever shall murder
shall be in danger of the judgment.’
But I tell you that
everyone who is angry with his brother
shall be in danger of the judgment;
and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raqa!’
shall be in danger of the Sanhedren;
and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’
shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

“If therefore
you are offering your gift at the altar,
and there remember that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there before the altar,
and go your way.
First be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Agree with your adversary quickly,
while you are with him on the way;
lest the prosecutor deliver you to the judge,
and the judge deliver you to the guard,
and you be cast into prison.
Most certainly I tell you,
you shall by no means get out of there,
until you have paid the last penny.