The First Reading for the Mass for Tuesday in the Second Week of Lent again reminds us that if we repent, our lives will be made as new:

Isaiah 1:10,16-20: “Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!”

(Via USCCB.)

A key idea seems to hinge around one phrase, “If you are willing, and obey…” good things will happen. In light of recent posts Listen to Him and Just Do It, obedience seems to bring great rewards. God knows this is not easy. But He also knows, as some of us have realized through our own spiritual progression, that obeying God and doing His will is an excellent way of shedding our defects of character. We fulfill the Lenten idea of “denying ourselves”. This means that we deny fulfilling our own self-directed or inward-directed wills and look outward towards God. We get “beyond ourselves” and grow closer to the Lord. We get His help in discovering the root causes of our sins and in amending our lives.

A thorough examination of conscience followed by Confession and Mass is an excellent way to do this.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)