Daily Readings - Wed Feb 22 2023
Joel
12"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;13and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.14Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?15Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly;16gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.17Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"18Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people.
Matthew
1"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.2"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.5"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.6But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.16"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,18that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward 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.