Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 8, 2022
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 nature of prayer. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful metaphor about the reliability of God’s word. Just as the rain and snow bring life to the earth, so too does God’s word accomplish its purpose and bring fruitfulness to those who receive it. This passage, written during a time of hope for the Israelites in exile, reminds us that God’s word is always effective and life-giving, even when we can’t see the results immediately.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about prayer. He warns against using many words, as if quantity would make prayer more effective. Instead, He teaches us the Lord’s Prayer, a simple yet profound prayer that reflects our dependence on God and our desire for His will to be done. The prayer also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness: asking God to forgive us as we forgive others. This teaching is central to Christian living, as it reminds us that our relationship with God is deeply tied to our relationships with others.
Together, these readings invite us to trust in God’s word and to approach prayer with simplicity and trust. They remind us that our words to God don’t need to be elaborate, but they must be sincere. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s word and its power in my life? Am I praying with simplicity and trust? And am I forgiving others as I seek forgiveness from God? Let us strive to live out these teachings, trusting in God’s plan and seeking to live in harmony with His will.