First be reconciled to your brother or sister,
and then come and offer your gift.
FIRST READING
(Ezekiel 18.21-28)
The word of the Lord came to me:
21 If the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed
and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right,
they shall surely live;
they shall not die.
22 None of the transgressions
that they have committed shall be remembered against them;
for the righteousness that they have done they shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God,
and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live?
24 But when the righteous turn away from their righteousness
and commit iniquity and do the same abominable things that the wicked do,
shall they live?
None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered;
for the treachery of which they are guilty
and the sin they have committed, they shall die.
25 Yet you say,
“The way of the Lord is unfair.”
Hear now, O house of Israel:
Is my way unfair?
Is it not your ways that are unfair?
26 When the righteous turn away from their righteousness
and commit iniquity, they shall die for it;
for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die.
27 Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed
and do what is lawful and right,
they shall save their life.
28 Because they considered
and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed,
they shall surely live;
they shall not die.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
(Psalm 130.1-2, 3-4, 5-6)
(R.3)
R. If you, O Lord, laid bare our guilt,
who could endure it?
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning.
GOSPEL
(Matthew 5.20-26)
Jesus went up the mountain;
and after he sat down, his disciples came to him
and he taught them.
20 “I tell you,
unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times,
‘You shall not murder’;
and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’
22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,
you will be liable to judgment;
and if you insult a brother or sister,
you will be liable to the council;
and if you say, ‘You fool,’
you will be liable to the hell of fire.
23 “So when you are offering your gift at the altar,
if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go;
first be reconciled to your brother or sister,
and then come and offer your gift.
25 “Come to terms quickly with your accuser
while the two of you are on the way to court,
or your accuser may hand you over to the judge,
and the judge to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
26 Truly I tell you,
you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”
