Warning! Warning!

As Christians
in a world that enshrines selfishness and atheist mythologizing,
you and I must speak prudently,
we must speak effectively,
we must speak lovingly,
we must speak humbly,
we must speak contritely,
but we MUST speak truthfully.

As today’s first reading (Ezekiel 33:7-9) tells us:

You, son of man,
I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;
when you hear me say anything,
you shall warn them for me.

If I tell the wicked,
"O wicked one, you shall surely die, "
and you do not speak out
to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.

But if you warn the wicked,
trying to turn him from his way,
and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt,
but you shall save yourself.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.