Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 1, 2021
First Reading: Daniel 9.3, 4b-10
3And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:4And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;5We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:6Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.7O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.8O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.9To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;10Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Psalm 79
1O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.4We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.5How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?6Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.7For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.10Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;12And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
Gospel: Luke 6.36-38
36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on mercy, repentance, and the call to live as followers of God. The first reading from Daniel is a heartfelt prayer of confession and repentance. Daniel acknowledges the sins of his people, humbly admitting their failure to follow God’s commandments and their rejection of the prophets’ warnings. He pleads for mercy, recognizing that justice belongs to God while shame and confusion belong to those who have sinned. This prayer is set in the context of the Babylonian exile, a time when Israel was forced to confront the consequences of their infidelity to the covenant. Daniel’s words remind us that true repentance involves acknowledging our sins, taking responsibility, and trusting in God’s mercy.
The Gospel reading from Luke offers a complementary message. Jesus teaches His disciples to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” He emphasizes the importance of not judging or condemning others, and instead forgiving generously. This teaching is rooted in the Golden Rule: the measure we use to measure others will be the measure used for us. Jesus calls His followers to live out the mercy and compassion they have received from God. This passage challenges us to reflect on how we treat others—whether we extend kindness, forgiveness, and understanding, or whether we hold grudges, judge harshly, or withhold love.
These readings remind us that mercy and repentance are deeply intertwined. Daniel’s prayer shows us that acknowledging our sin and seeking forgiveness is the first step toward healing and renewal. Jesus’ teaching in Luke calls us to extend that same mercy to others. In our daily lives, we are invited to reflect on how we live out these values. Do we approach others with compassion and understanding, or do we let judgment and criticism guide our actions? Let us ask for the grace to see ourselves and others through the lens of God’s mercy, and to live in a way that reflects the love and forgiveness we have received.