Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 12, 2019
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
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
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God’s word and the simplicity of prayer. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful metaphor: just as rain and snow water the earth and bring forth life, so too does God’s word accomplish its purpose in the world. It does not return empty but brings fruit, whether it is seed for the sower or bread for the hungry. This passage reminds us that God’s word is not just a distant promise but an active force that shapes and transforms creation.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to pray. He warns against the kind of prayer that relies on many words, as if God’s attention depends on our verbosity. Instead, Jesus offers the simple and profound prayer we know as the Our Father. This prayer is not about reciting formulas but about trusting in God’s providence. It emphasizes forgiveness as a central part of our relationship with God and with one another. Jesus makes it clear that our willingness to forgive others is directly tied to God’s forgiveness of us. This teaching challenges us to let go of grudges and to approach prayer with humility and trust.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s plan and God’s word. Isaiah assures us that God’s word is fruitful and reliable, while Jesus teaches us to approach prayer with simplicity and openness. Together, they remind us that our relationship with God is not about our own efforts or words but about trusting in His love and mercy. In our daily lives, this means turning to God’s word for guidance and approaching prayer with sincerity, not just repeating formulas. It also means living out the call to forgive others, knowing that this is how we experience God’s forgiveness in our own lives. Let us strive to trust in God’s word and to pray with the humility and simplicity that Jesus teaches.