Don’t ever Give Up!

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Today we are in the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel (18:21-28), which is jam-packed!  Ezekiel was the first prophet to receive a call from the Lord outside the Holy Land.  In today’s reading, the prophet is talking about what happens to those who are virtuous in doing what is right and those who are not.  In a nutshell, here’s what he says . . .

Using language a little different from what we use today, Ezekiel prophesizes that if a “wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my [God’s] statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

This is where we want to be, among those turning towards God!

(Remember, the prophets were the ones who told the people what they should be doing in line with God, and warned them what could happen if they don’t.  Naturally, they were not always well liked.)

Okay, so let’s continue with the virtuous man.

But, “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?”

Here’s the deal.

If you turn away from the bad stuff you have been doing, none of the “crimes” you committed will be remembered and you will live, because of the virtue you practiced.

But, if you were virtuous and turned to doing bad things, the good you did will not be remembered, because you had “broken faith and committed sin.”

While we may think that is not fair, God is just in all things.

If you know God and his ways and knowingly turn away from them, that’s when you get in the thick of things.

But if we turn towards God, our sins aren’t even remembered!

What is it that St. Paul said in the New Testament Letter to the Galatians (6:9) about this?

“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.”

During this beautiful season of Lent, do not give up.  Consider what virtues you might need to work on and then, by the grace of God, strive for the good.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net (podcasts)


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