Daily Readings - Tue Mar 07 2023
Isaiah
10Listen to the Word of the Lord, you leaders of the people of Sodom. Listen closely to the law of our God, O people of Gomorrah16Wash, become clean, take away the evil of your intentions from my eyes. Cease to act perversely17Learn to do good. Seek judgment, support the oppressed, judge for the orphan, defend the widow18And then approach and accuse me, says the Lord. Then, if your sins are like scarlet, they shall be made white like snow; and if they are red like vermillion, they shall become white like wool19If you are willing, and you listen to me, then you will eat the good things of the land20But if you are not willing, and you provoke me to anger, then the sword will devour you. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken27Zion will be redeemed in judgment, and they will lead her back to justice28And he shall crush the accursed and sinners together. And those who have abandoned the Lord will be consumed31And your strength will be like the embers from stubble, and your work will be like a spark, and both will burn together, and there will be no one to extinguish it
Matthew
1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds, and to his disciples2saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have sat down in the chair of Moses3Therefore, all things whatsoever that they shall say to you, observe and do. Yet truly, do not choose to act according to their works. For they say, but they do not do4For they bind up heavy and unbearable burdens, and they impose them on men’s shoulders. But they are not willing to move them with even a finger of their own5Truly, they do all their works so that they may be seen by men. For they enlarge their phylacteries and glorify their hems6And they love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues7and greetings in the marketplace, and to be called Master by men8But you must not be called Master. For One is your Master, and you are all brothers9And do not choose to call anyone on earth your father. For One is your Father, who is in heaven10Neither should you be called teachers. For One is your Teacher, the Christ11Whoever is greater among you shall be your minister12But whoever has exalted himself, shall be humbled. And whoever has humbled himself, shall be exalted
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful call to authenticity and integrity in our relationship with God and with others. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a stern warning to the leaders of God’s people, urging them to turn away from corruption and hypocrisy. The prophet condemns those who claim to follow God’s law but fail to live justly, exploiting the vulnerable and ignoring the plight of the widow and the orphan. Isaiah reminds us that true faith is not about outward appearances or empty rituals but about living with justice, compassion, and humility. He calls us to “learn to do good” and to seek judgment that uplifts the marginalized. The prophet’s words are a reminder that our actions must align with our faith, and that genuine repentance leads to healing and restoration.
In the Gospel, Jesus continues this theme by denouncing the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. He criticizes their tendency to burden others with strict rules while failing to live by those same standards. They seek praise and recognition for their outward piety, but their hearts are far from God. Jesus teaches that true greatness is not about seeking power or prestige but about serving others with humility. He reminds us that we have only one Master, one Father, and one Teacher—God himself. This means that no one on earth should be exalted above others, and that leadership is about serving, not being served.
Together, these readings challenge us to examine our own lives and motivations. Are we living with integrity, or are we more concerned with appearances? Do we use our faith to uplift others, or do we use it to elevate ourselves? The moral lesson is clear: true faith is not about what others see but about how we live in accordance with God’s will. Let us strive to be people of authenticity, compassion, and humility, remembering that our actions speak louder than our words. May we learn to “do good” and to seek justice, that we may be instruments of God’s love in the world.