Daily Readings - Wed Feb 22 2023
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
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the sincerity of our faith and the authenticity of our relationship with God. The prophet Joel calls us to return to the Lord with our whole heart, emphasizing that true conversion involves rending our hearts, not just our garments. This is a call to move beyond outward signs of repentance and to engage in a deeper, more personal transformation. Joel’s words are set in a context of impending crisis, urging the people to turn back to God before the Day of the Lord, a time of judgment and reckoning. His plea is not just for individual conversion but for a communal turning to God, involving all members of society, from the elders to the infants.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians complements Joel’s message by emphasizing the urgency of reconciliation with God. Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. He urges us not to receive God’s grace in vain, quoting Isaiah to stress that now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation. This passage is part of Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians to live out their faith with integrity, recognizing that God’s grace is not to be taken lightly but to transform their lives. Like Joel, Paul is calling for a sincere and immediate response to God’s invitation.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus teaching about the importance of practicing justice, prayer, and fasting in secret, rather than seeking to be seen by others. Jesus criticizes the hypocrisy of those who perform religious acts for the sake of appearances, emphasizing that true devotion is rewarded by God, who sees what is done in secret. This teaching is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus contrasts the superficial righteousness of the Pharisees with the authentic righteousness of those who follow him. Like Joel and Paul, Jesus calls for a faith that is heartfelt and sincere, not one that seeks human approval.
These readings remind us that our relationship with God is not about outward appearances but about the condition of our hearts. They call us to live our faith with authenticity, humility, and urgency. In our daily lives, this means practicing our faith in a way that is genuine and not self-serving. It means praying, giving alms, and fasting not to be seen by others but to deepen our connection with God. It also means recognizing that the time for conversion and reconciliation is now, not later. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Is my faith heartfelt and sincere? Am I living in a way that truly reflects my commitment to God? Let us turn to the Lord with our whole heart, trusting that he sees and rewards what is done in secret.