Daily Readings - Wed Mar 02 2022
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 repentance, genuine faith, and the importance of living out our relationship with God in sincerity and humility. In the first reading from the prophet Joel, we hear a call to conversion, urging the people to return to the Lord with their whole heart. Joel emphasizes that true repentance is not merely external—tearing garments or outward signs of mourning—but rather an inward transformation, a rending of the heart. This call to conversion is rooted in God’s mercy and steadfast love, who is always ready to spare and forgive, even in the face of human failure.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians deepens this theme of reconciliation. Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the mission of reconciling the world to God. He implores us not to receive God’s grace in vain, emphasizing that the time for salvation is now. This passage underscores the urgency of living out our faith with authenticity, not letting opportunities for conversion and growth pass us by. The “acceptable time” and the “day of salvation” are not in some distant future but in the present moment.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus’ teachings on the proper way to live out our faith. He warns against performing acts of piety—such as almsgiving, prayer, and fasting—with the intention of being seen by others. True faith, Jesus teaches, is not about external appearances but about sincerity and humility. When we give alms, pray, or fast, these acts should be done in secret, directed toward God alone, who sees what is done in secret and will reward it. Jesus calls us to a faith that is genuine, unpretentious, and rooted in a deep, personal relationship with the Father.
These readings, taken together, remind us that our relationship with God is not about outward appearances but about the condition of our hearts. Joel calls us to rend their hearts, Paul urges us to live out our faith with urgency and sincerity, and Jesus teaches us to direct our spiritual practices toward God alone. In our daily lives, let us examine our motivations and actions, ensuring that they flow from a place of genuine love for God and a desire to grow closer to him. May we embrace the call to conversion, live as true ambassadors of Christ, and cultivate a faith that is humble, sincere, and deeply personal.