Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the first week of Lent, February 27th, 2026

Delivered by Nia from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Ezekiel 18: 21-28; Rs psalm 130: 1-2.3-4ab.4c-6.7-8; Matthew 5: 20-26.NEW LAW REPLACES OLDLAW Our Meditation today isentitled: New Law Replaces Old Law. In this life, a change from good attitudeto bad attitude has happened a lot. Likewise, a person changes his evil wayinto a true one  also happens a lot. Thisis not because the change is automatic or a bonus for him. The change occurrsgenerally because it is intended or it is made possible to change. Humanfreedom allows this change to take place. One can choose to make a change ornot to change at all. The book of the prophet Ezekiel in the first readingcompares two areas that humans may take, namely darkness and light. Everyone isfree and deliberately chooses which area is preferred. Those who live in thedarkness of the world that is full with evil, have actually been good people.The leader of the devil before embracing evil, was an angel. Thus, many bad andevil people were previously good and right people. The Prophet said that such achange leads its way to destruction. The final result obtained from the choiceto live an evil life is death. There is no more help for the one who has chosento become evil. People who are already in hell can't be helped anymore. Those who live inGod's grace are those who live in the fullness of God's light, manifested intheir words and deeds. Precisely those who are highly praised by God and givenhope for an eternal life are those who give up dark life and live a new lifeunder the light of the Lord. Lent is an opportunity to have this kind ofexperience. Through our Lenten discipline such as fasting, examination ofconscience and the Sacrament of Confession, we renew ourselves to become newpersons. This renewal is madeso perfectly by Jesus, namely creating a new way of obeying God's commands andavoiding evil deeds. The old law stipulates a number of conditions for notdefiling and plunging oneself into sin according to the perspective at that time.The old law was replaced by Jesus by emphasizing more on the human aspect andnot on the rules of customs, habits, and views of great people or religiousleaders. The new law broughtby Jesus Christ is love. According to the principle of the law of love, anyaction that starts with evil intentions, thoughts, and plans is consideredsinful. It replaces the old law which only looks at sin when it is already amurder, destruction, manipulation, condemnation, and deprivation. In fact, whenthere are evil intentions or thoughts, one has already evil acts like anger andhatred, that later be manifested concretely. Thus, sin and evil really startfrom evil understanding, concepts, intentions, and thoughts. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O glorious and loving Jesus, perfect in our hearts the law of your love andenable us to love our neighbors following your example. Hail Mary, full ofgrace ... In the name of the Father ...