Lent is a great time to reflect on the gift of agency that God has given us. Today’s reading invites
us to consider how we exercise that agency. The prophet Ezekiel reminds us that we have control
over our present and future acts, and that despite the evil or sinful practices that we may have
engaged in throughout our past, God wants to extend his forgiveness to us. He recognizes our
desire and commitment to changing and developing a new, transformed relationship with Him.
God even tells us:

“Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
“Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?

He wants us to live, to make a decision to turn away from sin and remain close to Him.

At the same time, though, we are warned that if we enter from a path of righteousness into one of
sin, our good deeds will be forgotten. This appears a bit unfair initially, but God responds to our
concern with “Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?”
He is absolutely right. It is not His way, but rather, our choices and actions to do—or to avoid
doing—that are the problem. It’s our choices that can sometimes place us in situations that may
appear unfair. God is not out to punish us, to condemn us, or shame us for what we have done.
He wants to help us preserve our own life, and with the knowledge, agency, and understanding
that he grants to us each day, he equips us with the tools to do just that

With the comfort and confidence that God is on our side, may we move through this Lent being
more mindful of our choices and seek out experiences that will preserve us, and lead us to eternal
life.