Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 20, 2018

First Reading: Isaiah 55.10-11

¹⁰And in the same manner as rain and snow descend from heaven, and no longer return there, but soak the earth, and water it, and cause it to bloom and to provide seed to the sower and bread to the hungry¹¹so also will my word be, which will go forth from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish whatever I will, and it will prosper in the tasks for which I sent it

Psalm 34

Psalms

Chapter 34

¹To David, when he changed his appearance in the sight of Abimelech, and so he dismissed him, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be ever in my mouth²In the Lord, my soul will be praised. May the meek listen and rejoice³Magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name in itself⁴I sought the Lord, and he heeded me, and he carried me away from all my tribulations⁵Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded⁶This poor one cried out, and the Lord heeded him, and he saved him from all his tribulations⁷The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear him, and he will rescue them⁸Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Blessed is the man who hopes in him⁹Fear the Lord, all you his saints. For there is no destitution for those who fear him¹⁰The rich have been needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing¹¹Come forward, sons. Listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord¹²Which is the man who wills life, who chooses to see good days¹³Prohibit your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit¹⁴Turn away from evil, and do good. Inquire about peace, and pursue it¹⁵The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and his ears are with their prayers¹⁶But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth¹⁷The just cried out, and the Lord heard them, and he freed them from all their tribulations¹⁸The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble in spirit¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the just, but from them all the Lord will free them²⁰The Lord preserves all of their bones, not one of them shall be broken²¹The death of a sinner is very harmful, and those who hate the just will fare badly²²The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him will fare badly

Gospel: Matthew 6.7-15

Matthew

Chapter 6

⁷And when praying, do not choose many words, as the pagans do. For they think that by their excess of words they might be heeded⁸Therefore, do not choose to imitate them. For your Father knows what your needs may be, even before you ask him⁹Therefore, you shall pray in this way: Our Father, who is in heaven: May your name be kept holy¹⁰May your kingdom come. May your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth¹¹Give us this day our life-sustaining bread¹²And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors¹³And lead us not into temptation. But free us from evil. Amen¹⁴For if you will forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father also will forgive you your offenses¹⁵But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your sins

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the power of God's word and the simplicity of prayer. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us that just as rain and snow bring life to the earth, God's word is effective and accomplishes its purpose. It does not return empty but brings forth life and nourishment. This passage emphasizes the reliability and fruitfulness of God's word in our lives. The Gospel from Matthew offers us the Lord's Prayer, a model of simplicity and depth. Jesus teaches us that prayer is not about many words but about sincerity and trust in God, who already knows our needs. He emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and the alignment of our will with God's will. The context of Isaiah's prophecy is one of hope and restoration. Isaiah is addressing a people who have experienced exile and are longing for renewal. His words assure them that God's word is trustworthy and will bring about new life. In Matthew, Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray in a way that reflects a deep relationship with God as Father. He warns against the superficiality of merely reciting words, as seen in the practices of the pagans, and instead calls for authenticity and humility in prayer. Both readings highlight the theme of trust in God's providence. Isaiah shows us that God's word is always at work, even when we cannot see it. Matthew teaches us that prayer is not about convincing God but about surrendering to His will and seeking His kingdom. These readings remind us that our relationship with God is rooted in faith and trust, not in our own efforts or words. In our daily lives, we can apply these teachings by trusting in God's plan and seeking to align our will with His. We are called to pray with sincerity, not relying on empty words but on the assurance that God hears us. Forgiveness, as emphasized in the Lord's Prayer, is also a key aspect of living out our faith. Let us reflect on whether our prayers are heartfelt and whether we are living in accordance with God's will. May we find comfort in the knowledge that God's word is always at work, even in the quiet and unseen moments of our lives.