Daily Readings - Wed Feb 26 2020
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, the urgency of reconciliation, and the importance of living our faith with sincerity and humility. In the first reading, Joel calls the people to return to the Lord with their whole heart, warning against superficial acts of repentance. He emphasizes that true conversion is not about outward displays but about an inner transformation, a rending of the heart rather than the garments. This call to authenticity is echoed in the Gospel, where Jesus warns against performing acts of piety—such as almsgiving, prayer, and fasting—for the sake of appearances. He teaches that true devotion must be done in secret, directed toward God alone, who sees what is hidden.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians serves as a bridge between Joel’s call to conversion and Jesus’ teachings on humility. Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. He urges us not to waste the grace of God, emphasizing that now is the time for salvation. This urgency aligns with Joel’s plea for the people to gather, fast, and weep, and with Jesus’ call to sincerity in our spiritual practices. Together, the readings remind us that our relationship with God is not a performance for others but a deeply personal and intimate encounter.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our motives and the depth of our faith. Are we seeking to impress others with our piety, or are we truly seeking to please God? Do we approach prayer, fasting, and acts of charity with authenticity, or are we caught up in outward appearances? The moral lesson is clear: true conversion happens in the heart, and genuine faith is lived in humility and sincerity. Let us heed the call to rend our hearts, to pray in secret, and to live our faith in a way that honors God alone. In doing so, we will experience the transformative power of grace and the joy of living as children of God.