Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 10, 2020
First Reading: Isaiah 1.10, 16-20, 27-28, 31
10Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.19If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.27Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.28And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.31And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Psalm 50
1The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Gospel: Matthew 23.1-12
1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear a powerful call to live out our faith with integrity and humility. The first reading from Isaiah speaks to a people who have wandered far from God, their actions marred by injustice and corruption. Isaiah calls them to return to the Lord, to seek justice, and to care for the vulnerable. He reminds them that true repentance is not just about outward rituals but about a change of heart and a commitment to living according to God’s will. The prophet’s words are a stark reminder that our faith must be reflected in our actions, and that turning away from sin means turning toward justice and compassion.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses the scribes and Pharisees, criticizing their hypocrisy. While they carefully follow the letter of the law and seek to be seen as righteous, their hearts are far from God. Jesus warns his disciples against imitating their example, emphasizing that true greatness comes not from titles or outward appearances, but from humility and service. He reminds us that we have only one Master, one Teacher, and one Father—God himself. This teaching challenges us to examine our own motivations and actions, to ensure that we are living in a way that reflects our relationship with God and our love for others.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Are we more concerned with appearances or with living with integrity? Do we seek to serve others or to be recognized? Isaiah and Jesus both call us to a life of authenticity and humility. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to let go of pride and self-interest? Are we committed to seeking justice and caring for those in need? May we strive to live in a way that honors God, not through empty rituals or seeking praise, but through humble service and a heart that seeks to do His will.