Righteousness not iniquity By Beth DeCristofaro

Righteousness not iniquity By Beth DeCristofaro

 

Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. (Ezekiel 18:25-28)

 

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. (Mark 5:20-21)

 

 

 

Piety

Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa.  Again, it seems I stray.  Yet I trust in you, Lord, that in turning back to you, I shall surely live.

 

Study

A friend told me of her two little children who had given up sweets for Lent.  When a neighbor came over with hot cinnamon buns, right out of the oven, they told her that "Mom, we meant we gave up candy!  So can we have a bun now, right?" It's gotten easier for me to give up things for Lent since I was little, but it continues to be more challenging for me to give up sinful attitudes and habits which feel so important, so robust and energetic to me. Jesus' told his disciples that anger, even name-calling to humiliate or disrespect someone, is wrong.  But, I ruminate, "I’m right! That person is wrong, and more to the point they are hurting my feelings!”  Or whatever conversation my brain has with itself in this same vein.

 

Feelings are God-given and, thankfully so.  They enliven our lives.  Not only can we feel awe at the face of a newborn baby but be thrilled at a landscape full of the colors of sunset. Our internal fear senses help us run from lions, tigers and bears but seem dulled to more modern dangers. Attitudes, judgments, destructive behaviors born out of feelings are not “us.” Co-opting rules as did the scribes and Pharisees, are not of God. God created us in the image of the divine not our image. Again and again, Jesus tells and shows us that God is love, that his way is love, and that our mandate is love.  Living in our self-centeredness, attitudes, principles or small peccadillos, can too easily get in the way of entering fully into love, living in love which is possible only through Jesus. 

 

But wait, there’s more.  Lent’s journey is toward Christ’s Passion and Ressurection, realizing his presence in history and in us.  But it is also a chance to immerse ourselves in God’s mercy and remain there despite our inability to recognize that sweets and buns are the same, that my preferred life posture needs Jesus at the center rather than my small, sometimes destructive desires. 

 

Action

Sirach says most astutely, “If a mere mortal cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins?” (Sirach 28:5) If I cling to my anger, my self-righteousness, my addiction, or other obstacles to God, it remains in my way.  But Lent gives us a season dedicated to our approaching God who can and will remove all barriers.  What are ingrained patterns that I rationalize away that obstruct my way to God and perhaps obstruct others' path?  Today is a day of God’s mercy.  Ask and receive.  What actions can I take to continue my walk toward God and away from sin-defined life patterns?

 

 

illustration:  https://dungiljan.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-obstacle-in-our-path.html