Daily Readings - Wed Feb 14 2024
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 nature of true conversion, reconciliation, and the authenticity of our relationship with God. The prophet Joel calls us to return to the Lord with our whole heart, warning against superficial acts of penance and urging us to rend our hearts, not our garments. This is not a call to outward displays of piety but to an inner transformation that flows from a deep encounter with God’s mercy and love. Joel reminds us that God is gracious, merciful, and patient, always ready to spare and forgive, but we must approach Him with sincerity and humility.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians complements Joel’s message, as St. Paul emphasizes our role as ambassadors for Christ, imploring others—and ourselves—to be reconciled to God. He reminds us that now is the time of salvation, the favorable moment to embrace God’s grace and live in a way that reflects our union with Him. This passage underscores the urgency of living as people transformed by the Gospel, not as those who take God’s gifts for granted.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the true nature of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. He warns against performing these acts for human praise, as the hypocrites do, and instead calls us to do them in secret, where only God sees. True spirituality, Jesus tells us, is not about outward appearances but about the inner disposition of the heart. When we pray, fast, or give alms, we must do so with the desire to please God alone, trusting that He who sees in secret will reward us.
These readings remind us that our faith must be lived authentically and humbly. In a world often driven by appearances and self-promotion, we are called to cultivate a deeper, more personal relationship with God. Let us examine our hearts and actions, ensuring that our spiritual practices are not for the sake of others’ approval but for the sake of pleasing God. May we embrace this time of grace, return to the Lord with sincerity, and live as true ambassadors of Christ, guided by His love and truth.