Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: February 23, 2024

Date:   Friday of the 1st Week of Lent

Scripture Text:  Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment,and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise, your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew reminds us that we are called to loving relationship with one another and that we will be judged by our relationships.  

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How much love and prayer do I put into my relationships with others? Do I seek to deepen and strengthen my relationships? Do I seek to do more than the minimum? Do I seek loving unity with others?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, You are love itself. Your love is the source of our very being and You call us to live as beings created in love for loving relationships with You and with one another. Stir our minds and tenderize our hearts with your love. Grant that we may see that relationships cannot thrive on the minimum but require real effort and must be intentional. Help us to seek loving unity with all our sisters and brothers. Draw us to You, LORD, and allow your love to transform us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.