Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 25, 2022
First Reading: James 5.9-12
9Brothers, do not complain against one another, so that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the door10My brothers, consider the Prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of departing from evil, of labor, and of patience11Consider that we beatify those who have endured. You have heard of the patient suffering of Job. And you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate12But before all things, my brothers, do not choose to swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor in any other oath. But let your word ‘Yes’ be yes, and your word ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under judgment
Psalm 103
1To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses3He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities4He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion5He satisfies your desire with good things. Your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle6The Lord accomplishes mercies, and his judgment is for all who patiently endure injuries7He has made his ways known to Moses, his will to the sons of Israel8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy9He will not be angry forever, and he will not threaten for eternity10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, and he has not repaid us according to our iniquities11For according to the height of the heavens above the earth, so has he reinforced his mercy toward those who fear him12As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us13As a father is compassionate to his sons, so has the Lord been compassionate to those who fear him14For he knows our form. He has called to mind that we are dust15Man: his days are like hay. Like the flower of the field, so will he flourish16For the spirit in him will pass away, and it will not remain, and he will know his place no longer17But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, and even unto eternity, upon those who fear him. And his justice is with the sons of the sons18with those who serve his covenant and have been mindful of his commandments by doing them19The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom will rule over all20Bless the Lord, all you his Angels: powerful in virtue, doing his word, in order to heed the voice of his discourse21Bless the Lord, all his hosts: his ministers who do his will22Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul
Gospel: Mark 10.1-12
1And rising up, he went from there into the area of Judea beyond the Jordan. And again, the crowd came together before him. And just as he was accustomed to do, again he taught them2And approaching, the Pharisees questioned him, testing him: "Is it lawful for a man to dismiss his wife?3But in response, he said to them, "What did Moses instruct you?4And they said, "Moses gave permission to write a bill of divorce and to dismiss her.5But Jesus responded by saying: "It was due to the hardness of your heart that he wrote that precept for you6But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female7Because of this, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife8And these two shall be one in flesh. And so, they are now, not two, but one flesh9Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.10And again, in the house, his disciples questioned him about the same thing11And he said to them: "Whoever dismisses his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her12And if a wife dismisses her husband, and is married to another, she commits adultery.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of fidelity and integrity in our relationships, both within our communities and in our personal lives. The first reading from James encourages patience and truthfulness amidst hardships. James reminds us that enduring trials with patience is a testament to our faith, using the prophets and Job as examples. He also warns against the casual use of oaths, urging us to let our words be our bond, reflecting a deeper commitment to truth and integrity.
The Gospel from Mark shifts our focus to the permanence of marriage. Jesus, when questioned about divorce, emphasizes God's original plan for one man and one woman to be united. He challenges the cultural norms of His time, asserting that marriage is a sacred bond that should not be broken. This teaching extends beyond marriage to all our relationships, calling us to fidelity and perseverance.
Both readings remind us that our commitments, whether in community or marriage, are reflections of our fidelity to God's will. In our daily lives, this means embracing patience and integrity, standing firm in our commitments, and nurturing our relationships with truth and perseverance. May we strive to live with such fidelity, trusting in God's mercy and compassion as we navigate life's challenges.