Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Both readings today are perfect readings for an examination of conscience. They call us to greater holiness by helping us to realize how we should treat each other. Jesus even makes treating each other a test of the way we will be judged. Jesus equates how we help (or don’t help) our neighbors to how we help (or don’t help) him.
Let me pull out a few things that we could reflect on, especially before making a good sacramental confession:
Do I strive to be holy, as our God is holy?
Do I steal by taking things that don’t belong to me?
Do I lie or speak falsely?
Have I made a false statement under oath?
Do I profane God’s name?
Do I rob or defraud my neighbor by taking his or her good name away?
Do I misuse, mistreat, or cheat day laborers or anyone else who serves me?
Do I make fun of the disabled?
Do I hold grudges?
Do I make unfair or rash judgments about others?
Do I favor one group of people over another?
Do I slander neighbors by telling lies about them?
Do I stand by while other lives are at stake, whether born or unborn, domestic or foreign?
Do I hate one or more people?
Do I love my neighbor as myself?
Do I feed the hungry?
Do I give drink to the thirsty?
Do I welcome the stranger?
Do I clothe the naked?
Do I take care of the sick?
Have I helped anyone in prison, including those who suffer a type of imprisonment from addiction?