Gospel: February 27, 2026
February 27, 2026 (Friday)
1st Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 1 (Violet/White)
St. Gregory of Narek, abbot & doctor
Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
1st Reading: Ezekiel 18:21-28
Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26
I tell you, if your sense of right and wrong is not keener than that of the Lawyers and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard, that it was said to our people in the past: Do not commit murder; anyone who murders will have to face trial. But now, I tell you: whoever gets angry with a brother or sister will have to face trial. Whoever insults a brother or sister is liable, to be brought before the council. Whoever calls a brother or sister “Fool!” is liable, of being thrown into the fire of hell. So, if you are about to offer your gift at the altar, and you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there, in front of the altar; go at once, and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.
Don’t forget this: be reconciled with your opponent quickly when you are together on the way to court. Otherwise he will turn you over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, who will put you in jail. There, you will stay, until you have paid the last penny.
Reflection:
God is love.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to embrace a deeper and more profound understanding of righteousness. During His time, the Pharisees emphasized strict adherence to the law to attain justice before God. However, this often resulted in a rigid and burdensome legalism that caused distress among the people. By addressing “anger” as a basis for judgment, Jesus introduces a transformative perspective on righteousness. He seeks to eliminate the root causes of actions like murder, including hatred, vengeance, insults, and other harmful intentions. This teaching highlights that true worship, which is pleasing to God, involves reconciliation with those we are in conflict with, fostering harmony and love.
Saint Matthew enlightens us today with Jesus’ words about the importance of dialogue. Only through dialogue do we accept and understand one another, fostering reconciliation among us. Let us remember that our God is love, and we are called to embody this by offering forgiveness and reconciliation to others. May the loving and forgiving Lord grant us the courage to forgive and to be forgiven before it is too late.
