Seek Good Not Evil

“Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord will be with you.”  This is today’s verse before the Gospel.  It’s Amos 5:14, and it’s a wonderful way to begin Lent.  Seek good!  Do good!  Don’t fall asleep and let evil through the door.  Evil always knocks, and we tend to be fooled by its disguise.  We get taken in by evil’s allure.  So, we sin.  

Our psalm (51:3-4, 5-6, 18-19) provides our response with a focus on being contrite and humble.

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;

in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt

and of my sin cleanse me.

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

For I acknowledge my offense,

and my sin is before me always:

"Against you only have I sinned,

and done what is evil in your sight."

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;

should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;

a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

When priests, deacons, or I spread our arms and say before we proclaim the Gospel, “The Lord be with you!” we essentially are saying: “Seek good and not evil so that you may live.”  We also encourage everyone to be contrite and humble.  There’s a lot packed into that simple command, and it is a command – not a request.   Let's obey by giving up evil, especially this Lent.

Deacon David Pierce