Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 14, 2022
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, judgment, and the relationship between God and humanity. In Daniel’s prayer, we hear a heartfelt confession of sin and a plea for divine mercy. Daniel acknowledges the sins of his people, acknowledging that their suffering is a consequence of their infidelity to God. Yet, he also appeals to God's mercy, acknowledging that God is just and faithful, and that His mercy is available to those who turn back to Him. This reading reminds us of the importance of humility and repentance in our relationship with God.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the importance of showing mercy to others. He warns against judging or condemning others, because the measure we use to judge others will be the same measure used to judge us. He calls us to be merciful as the Father is merciful, and He promises that those who give generously will receive abundantly in return. This teaching challenges us to examine our attitudes toward others and to live out the mercy and compassion we receive from God.
The connection between these readings is clear: just as we ask for God's mercy and forgiveness, we must extend that same mercy and forgiveness to others. Daniel's prayer shows us the importance of acknowledging our own sinfulness and seeking God's pardon. Jesus' teaching in the Gospel shows us that this mercy must not remain inward but must be expressed in our relationships with others. In our daily lives, we are called to live out this twofold dynamic: humbly seeking God's mercy and freely giving it to others. Let us remember that the measure of our love for God is reflected in how we treat our neighbors, and may we strive to be instruments of God's mercy and compassion in the world.