Daily Readings - Wed Mar 06 2019
Joel
12Now, therefore, the Lord says: "Be converted to me with your whole heart, in fasting and weeping and mourning.13And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and convert to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and merciful, patient and full of compassion, and steadfast despite ill will14Who knows if he might convert and forgive, and bequeath a blessing after him, a sacrifice and a libation to the Lord your God15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call an assembly16Gather the people, sanctify the church, unite the elders, gather together the little ones and infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom depart from his bed, and the bride from her bridal chamber17Between the vestibule and the altar, the priests, the ministers of the Lord, will weep, and they will say: "Spare, O Lord, spare your people. And do not bequeath your inheritance into disgrace, so that the nations would rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ 18The Lord has been zealous for his land, and he has spared his people
Matthew
1"Pay attention, lest you perform your justice before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you shall not have a reward with your Father, who is in heaven2Therefore, when you give alms, do not choose to sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the towns, so that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing4so that your almsgiving may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you5And when you pray, you should not be like the hypocrites, who love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets to pray, so that they may be seen by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward6But you, when you pray, enter into your room, and having shut the door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you16And when you fast, do not choose to become gloomy, like the hypocrites. For they alter their faces, so that their fasting may be apparent to men. Amen I say to you, that they have received their reward17But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face18so that your fasting will not be apparent to men, but to your Father, who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true conversion, reconciliation, and the authenticity of our relationship with God. In the first reading from Joel, we hear a call to return to the Lord with our whole heart. Joel emphasizes that true repentance is not about external displays but about an internal transformation: "Rend your hearts, not your garments." This plea comes in a time of crisis, urging the people to seek God’s mercy and spare them from disgrace. The prophet’s words remind us that conversion is not a superficial act but a deep, heartfelt turning back to God.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians reinforces this message. Paul describes himself and other believers as ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. He implores us not to receive God’s grace in vain, reminding us that the time for salvation is now. This passage emphasizes the urgency of living out our faith with sincerity and purpose, for God’s grace is not to be taken lightly. Paul’s words challenge us to examine how we respond to God’s invitation to reconciliation in our daily lives.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus teaching about the proper way to practice justice, prayer, and fasting. He warns against performing these acts of piety for the sake of appearances, as the hypocrites do. Instead, Jesus calls us to live these virtues in secret, so that our actions are seen by God alone. This teaching underscores the importance of authenticity in our spiritual lives. True devotion to God is not about seeking human approval but about fostering a deep, personal relationship with Him.
These readings together remind us that our faith must be lived with sincerity and humility. Joel calls us to rend our hearts, Paul urges us to embrace reconciliation, and Jesus teaches us to avoid hypocrisy. In our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are our actions motivated by a genuine love for God, or are they driven by a desire to be seen by others? Let us strive to live our faith with authenticity, knowing that God sees what is hidden and will reward it. May we turn to Him with whole hearts, embracing His grace and living as true ambassadors of Christ.