"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted"
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom is a powerful reading. It points toward Good Friday, which is only three weeks from today. Those speaking in the text are the wicked who are frustrated by the righteous one who claims to be the Son of God. Christians have commonly understood this passage as referring to Jesus. Who else was condemned to a shameful death, mocked and tortured, and yet claimed to be the Son of God? The wicked, in this reading, felt judged by the righteous one’s life. He did not live the way they lived, but was set apart for God. He avoided sin and lived a holy life. The Greek philosopher Plato, who lived long before Jesus, wrote that if a truly righteous man ever walked the earth, he would be crucified. This is what we find happening in the first reading. As Plato predicted, the most righteous man – Jesus, was crucified. In spite of this, the Friday memorializing the crucifixion of Jesus is called “Good” Friday. Indeed it is good, because through Jesus’ suffering, death, and Easter resurrection, we have eternal life, All have gone astray may now be reconciled with God. We can call God “Father.” We are adopted daughters and sons of God. We become members of God’s family through Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus’ crucifixion is the greatest example of God writing straight with crooked lines.
Even though we are all sinners and are in some way responsible for the death of Jesus, Good Friday is “good” because Jesus willingly died for us. In response, we must strive to live lives like the Righteous One. Let us not justify our sins, our faults and flaws, and therefore resent those around us who strive for holiness. This would be the attitude of the wicked described in the first reading. Rather, let us rather strive to live lives like Jesus’ life. Simultaneously, Jesus’ death should also remind us of the seriousness of sin. If the consequence of sin is the death of Jesus then we must do our best to avoid sin.
Lent is a great opportunity to strive to live holy lives. Let us finish Lent strong, as we wait for the Lord’s rising at Easter.