Homily: February 27, 2024, Tuesday of the second week in lent (White as snow).

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 “Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow…”

Today’s first reading is set at the time when the people of Judah had been rebellious against God, who had been providing for them. Prophet Isaiah spoke on behalf of the Lord, who though having been offended, was calling them to repentance and return to God.

God wants to set things right with His people, and the way He will do it is to wash away all the sins and offences against Him, leaving no trace of the wrongdoings, becoming ‘as white as snow’, ‘as white as wool’.

I have a friend who shared that when she was in high school, there was one year when she could never complete her school assignments. Her family was going through a rough time and it affected her studies. At one point the amount of schoolwork she owed her Math teacher was so much that she felt like dying, she knew she would never be able to complete all the outstanding work and it burdened her tremendously.

Then one day, her teacher spoke to her privately, she seemed to understand her situation and as my friend broke down in guilt and shame, her teacher made a most uplifting decision. She told her, “All the work that you owe me are written off. 

You don’t have to do them anymore. Start anew, pick up speed from now on, and just complete the new assignments on time.”

That decision removed all the burden and my friend felt relieved immediately. The past records were deleted, and she could start on a clean slate, a blank page, a new beginning. She was very grateful, she felt like a prisoner set free and was motivated to do her best from then on.

Have you ever had a similar experience?

I can imagine how it feels like being loosened from a tight and heavy chain. That was what God wanted for the people of Judah, that is what God wants for each and everyone of us, to be freed from the burden of our own sins, our past wrongdoings, our guilt and shame.

He is asking us to stop hiding in the dark, turn back to Him and be reconciled, be washed clean, it is not too late. He is ever ready to make us white as snow, white as wool again.

God is merciful, compassionate and forgiving, are you willing to come forward to receive it humbly and sincerely? Amen.


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