Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 16, 2024
First Reading: Isaiah 58.1-9a
1Cry out! Cease not! Exalt your voice like a trumpet, and announce to my people their wicked acts, and to the house of Jacob their sins2For they also seek me, from day to day, and they are willing to know my ways, like a nation which has done justice and has not abandoned the judgment of their God. They petition me for judgments of justice. They are willing to draw near to God3"Why have we fasted, and you have not taken notice? Why have we humbled our souls, and you have not acknowledged it?" Behold, in the day of your fasting, your own will is found, and you petition for payment from all your debtors4Behold, you fast with strife and contention, and you strike with the fist impiously. Do not choose to fast as you have done even to this day. Then your outcry will be heard on high5Is this a fast such as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his soul for a day, to contort his head in a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? Should you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord6Is not this, instead, the kind of fast that I have chosen? Release the constraints of impiety; relieve the burdens that oppress; freely forgive those who are broken; and break apart every burden7Break your bread with the hungry, and lead the destitute and the homeless into your house. When you see someone naked, cover him, and do not despise your own flesh8Then your light will break forth like the morning, and your health will improve quickly, and your justice will go before your face, and the glory of the Lord will gather you up9Then you will call, and the Lord will heed; you will cry out, and he will say, "Here I am," if you take away the chains from your midst, and cease to point your finger and to speak what is not beneficial
Psalm 51
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity2Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin3For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me4Against you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment5For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sinfulness did my mother conceive me6For behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to me7You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow8In my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exult9Turn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquities10Create a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost being11Do not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit13I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you14Free me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice15O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praise16For if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delighted17A crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn18Act kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up19Then you will accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and holocausts. Then they will lay calves upon your altar
Gospel: Matthew 9.14-15
14Then the disciples of John drew near to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast frequently, but your disciples do not fast?15And Jesus said to them: "How can the sons of the groom mourn, while the groom is still with them? But the days will arrive when the groom will be taken away from them. And then they shall fast
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the true meaning of fasting and its purpose in our spiritual lives. The prophet Isaiah challenges us to look beyond mere outward acts of fasting, such as abstaining from food or wearing sackcloth, and instead emphasizes the need for a deeper transformation of heart. He calls us to fast in a way that loosens the bonds of injustice, shares our resources with the hungry, and shelters the homeless. True fasting, Isaiah insists, is not about personal piety but about living out God’s justice and compassion in the world. In the Gospel, Jesus responds to a question about fasting by comparing Himself to a groom celebrating with His bride. He explains that as long as He is present with His disciples, it is a time for joy and feasting, not for mourning or fasting. However, He also hints that a time for fasting will come when He is no longer with them in the same way.
The connection between these readings lies in their focus on the heart’s disposition. Isaiah critiques a fasting that is self-serving or superficial, while Jesus emphasizes that fasting is not about outward rules but about the inner posture of the heart. Both readings remind us that our spiritual practices must be rooted in a genuine relationship with God and a commitment to living out His love and justice in the world. Fasting, in its truest sense, is not just about what we give up but about what we give—our time, resources, and compassion—to those in need.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: How are we fasting from selfishness, greed, or indifference? How are we using our resources to serve others and build a more just world? Jesus reminds us that His presence among us is a cause for joy, but this joy should inspire us to live with greater love and generosity. Let us embrace the kind of fasting that Isaiah describes—breaking chains, feeding the hungry, and caring for the vulnerable. In doing so, we will experience the light and healing that God promises, and we will live as true disciples of Christ, whose hearts are transformed and whose lives reflect His love.