Daily Readings - Wed Mar 05 2025
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
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the essence of true faith and the call to live a life of sincerity and humility before God. The first reading from Joel emphasizes the importance of genuine conversion. Joel calls the people to return to the Lord with their whole hearts, warning against superficial displays of piety. He urges them to rend their hearts, not their garments, signaling a deeper, inward transformation. This passage is set against the backdrop of a time of crisis, where the people are urged to seek God’s mercy and spare them from disgrace. Joel’s words remind us that true repentance is not about outward shows but about an inner change that reflects our commitment to God.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians complements Joel’s message by highlighting our role as ambassadors for Christ. Paul implores the Corinthians to be reconciled to God and not to receive His grace in vain. He emphasizes the urgency of the present moment as the time of salvation, quoting Isaiah to stress that God’s favor is available now. This passage underscores the responsibility that comes with receiving God’s grace—namely, to live in a way that reflects His love and mercy to the world. Paul’s words challenge us to consider how we respond to God’s grace and whether we are living as true representatives of Christ.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus’ teachings on the proper way to practice justice, prayer, and fasting. Jesus warns against performing these acts for the sake of human approval, as the hypocrites do. Instead, He calls His followers to do these things in secret, where only God can see. This teaching emphasizes the importance of sincerity in our relationship with God. When we give alms, pray, or fast, our focus should be on pleasing God rather than seeking human praise. Jesus’ words remind us that true spirituality is about cultivating a deep, personal connection with God, free from the need for external validation.
These readings, when taken together, offer a powerful lesson about the nature of authentic faith. Joel calls us to conversion, Paul reminds us of our role as ambassadors, and Jesus teaches us how to live out our faith with sincerity. The common thread is the call to humility and a focus on God rather than on ourselves. In our daily lives, we are challenged to examine our motivations and ensure that our actions are driven by a genuine desire to please God. Let us strive to live in such a way that our hearts are truly converted, our lives reflect God’s grace, and our spiritual practices are rooted in sincerity. May we embrace this call to authentic faith, living as ambassadors of Christ with humility and integrity.