Monday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Readings

Today’s first reading comes from Leviticus, meaning “law”. And in the set of laws that God gave to Moses for the assembly in this first reading, there are many things we shall not do. However, there are two things Leviticus says we shall do here, one of which is in verse 14 of chapter 19 that reads, “…but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.” It is mentioned again in today’s Psalm, which is Psalm 19 in verse 9 that reads, “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever”. As a catechist, I have the honor of spending an hour each Sunday for the month of March with the Confirmation candidates at my parish. One of the lessons I get the opportunity to review with them is all about the ways in which the gifts of the Holy Spirit strengthen them in their path, and not just them, but all of us. One of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that I review with them happens to be fear of the Lord, mentioned in today’s first reading from Leviticus and in the responsorial psalm. So, what is fear of the Lord?

In the same way that a good relationship is said to be a two-way street, whether it is a friendship between two friends, or a relationship between two relatives or even colleagues, our relationship and friendship with Christ should also be two-way, in that God loves us unconditionally. Therefore, we should be driven by our love for Him and our desire to please Him as our Heavenly Father. Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew of the Last Judgment, distinguishes the difference between the sheep who feared the Lord through their lives vs. the goats who did not fear the Lord through their lives, separating the sheep on His right from the goats on His left. And it is concluded in this Gospel passage that the sheep who are called righteous, will have eternal life while the goats “…will go away into eternal punishment…” The main difference between these two groups in this Gospel passage is that one group exhibited fear of the Lord out their desire to serve and please the Lord through love, mercy, and goodness, while the other group failed to exhibit fear of the Lord, failing to do what is pleasing to God.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not take this amazing gift of the Holy Spirit for granted that we read about in Leviticus and in today’s Psalm. After all, we would lovingly accept a gift given to us lovingly from the heart from someone close to us. Consequently, we are called to accept this gift of the Holy Spirit in the same way and fear the Lord, based on His abundant love and endless mercy that He has in store for every one of us. Let our fear of the Lord serve as our foundation this season of Lent as we think about what it is we want to give up and/or how we want to better ourselves, following and living more like Christ out of love for Him in the same way He loves us, so that in our final judgment we may be categorized with the sheep in today’s Gospel and be called righteous, living eternally with Christ Jesus. May God bless and keep all of you this Lenten season and always.

Daniel Cutrone, SFC '24