Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the first week of Lent, February 27, 2026.
Our Meditation today is entitled: New Law Replaces Old Law. In this life, a change from good attitude to bad attitude has happened a lot. Likewise, a person changes his evil way into a true one also happens a lot. This is not because the change is automatic or a bonus for him. The change occurrs generally because it is intended or it is made possible to change. Human freedom allows this change to take place. One can choose to make a change or not to change at all. The book of the prophet Ezekiel in the first reading compares two areas that humans may take, namely darkness and light. Everyone is free and deliberately chooses which area is preferred.
Those who live in the darkness 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 and evil people were previously good and right people. The Prophet said that such a change leads its way to destruction. The final result obtained from the choice to live an evil life is death. There is no more help for the one who has chosen to become evil. People who are already in hell can't be helped anymore.
Those who live in God's grace are those who live in the fullness of God's light, manifested in their words and deeds. Precisely those who are highly praised by God and given hope for an eternal life are those who give up dark life and live a new life under the light of the Lord. Lent is an opportunity to have this kind of experience. Through our Lenten discipline such as fasting, examination of conscience and the Sacrament of Confession, we renew ourselves to become new persons.
This renewal is made so perfectly by Jesus, namely creating a new way of obeying God's commands and avoiding evil deeds. The old law stipulates a number of conditions for not defiling 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 and not on the rules of customs, habits, and views of great people or religious leaders.
The new law brought by Jesus Christ is love. According to the principle of the law of love, any action that starts with evil intentions, thoughts, and plans is considered sinful. It replaces the old law which only looks at sin when it is already a murder, destruction, manipulation, condemnation, and deprivation. In fact, when there are evil intentions or thoughts, one has already evil acts like anger and hatred, that later be manifested concretely. Thus, sin and evil really start from 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 and enable us to love our neighbors following your example. Hail Mary, full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...
