Divine divergence

Fr. Russ Bergman
Feb 23
1 min read

Matthew's Gospel today focuses on the judgment of nations. Individual and collective accountability await us all. Lent helps provide a preview of how we’re doing alone and as a nation. Our media certainly influences our perspective. We need to turn to divine influence and how well it permeates our world. Leviticus reminds us of the call to be holy. Fortunately, the directions we need do not stop there. How we get there has already been laid out in the commandments. Today, both readings revisit how God loves us and how we extend that love to those with whom we live. Leviticus focuses on the morality of interpersonal relations. Matthew’s gospel shows how it’s lived out in love or lacking. Are we living in a way that sets us apart, attending to our neighbors’ needs for physical, social and spiritual health and well-being? We choose the divine way or diverge from it. Judgement does not condemn us; it affirms the choices we’ve made, to respect or reject our neighbors. God will respect our choice.

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