Daily Readings - Wed Mar 06 2019
Joel
12"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."13Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.14Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.15Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.16Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.17Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"18Then the LORD will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people.
Matthew
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true conversion, reconciliation, and the authenticity of our relationship with God. In the first reading from Joel, we hear a call to return to the Lord with our whole heart. Joel emphasizes that true repentance is not about external displays but about an internal transformation: "Rend your hearts, not your garments." This plea comes in a time of crisis, urging the people to seek God’s mercy and spare them from disgrace. The prophet’s words remind us that conversion is not a superficial act but a deep, heartfelt turning back to God.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians reinforces this message. Paul describes himself and other believers as ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. He implores us not to receive God’s grace in vain, reminding us that the time for salvation is now. This passage emphasizes the urgency of living out our faith with sincerity and purpose, for God’s grace is not to be taken lightly. Paul’s words challenge us to examine how we respond to God’s invitation to reconciliation in our daily lives.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus teaching about the proper way to practice justice, prayer, and fasting. He warns against performing these acts of piety for the sake of appearances, as the hypocrites do. Instead, Jesus calls us to live these virtues in secret, so that our actions are seen by God alone. This teaching underscores the importance of authenticity in our spiritual lives. True devotion to God is not about seeking human approval but about fostering a deep, personal relationship with Him.
These readings together remind us that our faith must be lived with sincerity and humility. Joel calls us to rend our hearts, Paul urges us to embrace reconciliation, and Jesus teaches us to avoid hypocrisy. In our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are our actions motivated by a genuine love for God, or are they driven by a desire to be seen by others? Let us strive to live our faith with authenticity, knowing that God sees what is hidden and will reward it. May we turn to Him with whole hearts, embracing His grace and living as true ambassadors of Christ.