Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 26, 2020
First Reading: Joel 2.12-18
12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?18Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
Psalm 51
1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.20 – 6.2
Gospel: Matthew 6.1-6, 16-18
1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true conversion, the urgency of reconciliation, and the importance of living our faith with sincerity and humility. In the first reading, Joel calls the people to return to the Lord with their whole heart, warning against superficial acts of repentance. He emphasizes that true conversion is not about outward displays but about an inner transformation, a rending of the heart rather than the garments. This call to authenticity is echoed in the Gospel, where Jesus warns against performing acts of piety—such as almsgiving, prayer, and fasting—for the sake of appearances. He teaches that true devotion must be done in secret, directed toward God alone, who sees what is hidden.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians serves as a bridge between Joel’s call to conversion and Jesus’ teachings on humility. Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. He urges us not to waste the grace of God, emphasizing that now is the time for salvation. This urgency aligns with Joel’s plea for the people to gather, fast, and weep, and with Jesus’ call to sincerity in our spiritual practices. Together, the readings remind us that our relationship with God is not a performance for others but a deeply personal and intimate encounter.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our motives and the depth of our faith. Are we seeking to impress others with our piety, or are we truly seeking to please God? Do we approach prayer, fasting, and acts of charity with authenticity, or are we caught up in outward appearances? The moral lesson is clear: true conversion happens in the heart, and genuine faith is lived in humility and sincerity. Let us heed the call to rend our hearts, to pray in secret, and to live our faith in a way that honors God alone. In doing so, we will experience the transformative power of grace and the joy of living as children of God.