
Live reconciled - 27-02-2026
Friday of the First week of Lent
Readings Responsorial Psalm Gospel YOUCAT Reflection
First Reading
Ezek 18,21-28.
Thus says the Lord GOD:
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 die.
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice
when he turns from his evil way that he may live?
And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,
the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,
can he do this and still live?
None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,
because he has broken faith and committed sin;
because of this, he shall die.
You say, "The LORD'S way is not fair!"
Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair,
or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity,
and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if a wicked man, 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 which he committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 130(129),1-2.3-4.5-7a.7bc-8.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than sentinels for dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
and he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
Gospel
Matt 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 with him.
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."
YOUCAT Reflection
524 What does it mean to say, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us"?
Merciful forgiveness—the mercy that we show to others and the mercy that we ourselves seek—is indivisible. If we ourselves are not merciful and do not forgive one another, God's mercy will not reach our hearts.
Many people have a lifelong struggle with their inabil- ity to forgive. The deep blockade of being unreconciled is resolved only by looking to God, who adopted us "while we were yet sinners" (Rom 5,8). Because we have a kind Father, forgiveness and reconciliation in life are possible.
