Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 3, 2020
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
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about trust and communication with God. The first reading from Isaiah 55:10-11 uses the imagery of rain and snow to illustrate the effectiveness of God's word. Just as these elements nourish the earth and bring forth life, God's word accomplishes its purpose without returning void. This passage, set against the backdrop of Israel's hope for restoration, reminds us of the reliability and fruitfulness of God's promises.
The Gospel from Matthew 6:7-15 shifts our focus to prayer. Jesus teaches the disciples to pray with sincerity, using the Lord's Prayer as a model. He emphasizes that God knows our needs before we ask, urging us to avoid the empty repetitions of the pagans. The prayer teaches us to seek holiness, God's will, daily bread, forgiveness, and protection from evil. Jesus underscores the importance of forgiveness, warning that our ability to forgive others affects how God forgives us.
These readings intertwine themes of trust and sincerity. Isaiah assures us that God's word is trustworthy, while Matthew's Gospel calls us to trust in God's provision and to approach Him with genuine hearts. In our daily lives, this means trusting God's plan, praying sincerely, and embracing forgiveness. The moral lesson is clear: deepen your trust in God, communicate with Him authentically, and live out your faith through forgiveness and reliance on His goodness.