Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 25, 2023
First Reading: Isaiah 58.9b-14
9Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,10if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.11And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.12And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.13"If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;14then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
Psalm 86
1Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.2Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you--you are my God.3Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.4Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.5For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.6Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.7In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.8There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.9All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.10For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.11Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.12I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.13For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.14O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seek my life, and they do not set you before them.15But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.16Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.17Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Gospel: Luke 5.27-32
27After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me."28And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.29And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.30And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"31And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about living out our faith through compassionate actions. The prophet Isaiah challenges us to move beyond superficial religious practices, emphasizing that true fasting involves setting the oppressed free, sharing with the hungry, and comforting the afflicted. This call to justice and mercy is not just a suggestion but a divine imperative. In the Gospel, Jesus scandalizes the Pharisees by dining with tax collectors and sinners, declaring that he came not for the self-righteous, but for those who recognize their need for repentance.
Both readings highlight the importance of living out our faith in tangible ways. Isaiah's message is set in a context where the people were practicing fasting, but their actions did not reflect a commitment to justice and care for the vulnerable. Similarly, in Luke's account, Jesus challenges the Pharisees' hypocrisy, pointing out that their focus on external purity missed the heart of God's mercy and love. These passages remind us that our faith must be expressed in how we treat others, especially those on the margins of society.
As we reflect on these readings, let us examine our own lives. Are we content with outward displays of piety, or do we allow our faith to transform us into instruments of God's justice and love? Let us seek to be like Levi, who left everything to follow Jesus, and like Jesus himself, who reached out to those society had rejected. May we find joy in serving others and may our lives be a reflection of God's light in a world that often lives in darkness.