Daily Readings - Wed Feb 14 2024
Joel
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.
Matthew
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
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of true conversion, reconciliation, and the authenticity of our relationship with God. The prophet Joel calls us to return to the Lord with our whole heart, warning against superficial acts of penance and urging us to rend our hearts, not our garments. This is not a call to outward displays of piety but to an inner transformation that flows from a deep encounter with God’s mercy and love. Joel reminds us that God is gracious, merciful, and patient, always ready to spare and forgive, but we must approach Him with sincerity and humility.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians complements Joel’s message, as St. Paul emphasizes our role as ambassadors for Christ, imploring others—and ourselves—to be reconciled to God. He reminds us that now is the time of salvation, the favorable moment to embrace God’s grace and live in a way that reflects our union with Him. This passage underscores the urgency of living as people transformed by the Gospel, not as those who take God’s gifts for granted.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the true nature of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. He warns against performing these acts for human praise, as the hypocrites do, and instead calls us to do them in secret, where only God sees. True spirituality, Jesus tells us, is not about outward appearances but about the inner disposition of the heart. When we pray, fast, or give alms, we must do so with the desire to please God alone, trusting that He who sees in secret will reward us.
These readings remind us that our faith must be lived authentically and humbly. In a world often driven by appearances and self-promotion, we are called to cultivate a deeper, more personal relationship with God. Let us examine our hearts and actions, ensuring that our spiritual practices are not for the sake of others’ approval but for the sake of pleasing God. May we embrace this time of grace, return to the Lord with sincerity, and live as true ambassadors of Christ, guided by His love and truth.