Lent is being consistently kind

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40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, First Week in Lent, 14 March 2025
Ezekiel 18:21-28     + + +     Matthew 5:20-26

God our loving Father,
as we end this first week
in Lent, teach us more on the 
need to be empty of ourselves,
empty of our pride
for us to be consistent
and most especially,
kind.

We have been so filled 
with the world that our
hearts burn with anger
and hate, totally disregarding
reason and morals
with so many parents
still in grief, crying for
their children mercilessly
killed on mere suspicions
while friends and neighbors
even family are caught 
in a huge web of lies
everyone believes;
worst, everyone sees
one's self being so right
while others so wrong,
even accusing you, O God,
of being "unfair" like during 
the time of Ezekiel.

How sad in this age of
boundless and instant 
communications,
our world had shrunk 
into little worlds and galaxies
of "me and mine and I";
teach us your way of kindness
in Jesus so we may see
everyone as a "kin" -
a kindred,
a one of us
filled with goodwill
for one another;
remind us always, Jesus,
that it is not enough that
we do not just kill anyone
but most of all has goodwill
with everyone right in our hearts
as a sign of true worship
for it is only when we see
each one as a kin 
that loving can begin
consistently.
Amen.