A time of Lexio devena for the discerning heart.

Friday of the first week in Lent.

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart, Jesus, I trust in you. You take over. Become aware that he is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within your heart.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew,

Chapter 5, verses 20 through 26.

Jesus said to his disciples,

If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and the Pharisees,

you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

You have learned how it was said to our ancestors,

you must not kill.

And if anyone does kill, he must answer for it before the court.

But I say this to you. Anyone who is angry

with his brother will answer for it before the court. If a man calls his brother, fool,

he will answer for it before the Sanhedron. And if a man calls him a renegade, he will answer for it

in hellfire.

So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar,

and there remember that your brother has something against you,

leave your offering there before the altar,

go and be reconciled with your brother first,

and then come back and present your offering.

Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him,

...