Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 12, 2019
First Reading: Isaiah 55.10-11
10As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,11so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Psalm 34
1I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.2My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.3Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.4I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.5Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.6This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.9Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.10The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,13keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.14Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;16the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.19A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;20he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.21Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.22The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
Gospel: Matthew 6.7-15
7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.9"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.11Give us today our daily bread.12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God’s word and the simplicity of prayer. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful metaphor: just as rain and snow water the earth and bring forth life, so too does God’s word accomplish its purpose in the world. It does not return empty but brings fruit, whether it is seed for the sower or bread for the hungry. This passage reminds us that God’s word is not just a distant promise but an active force that shapes and transforms creation.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to pray. He warns against the kind of prayer that relies on many words, as if God’s attention depends on our verbosity. Instead, Jesus offers the simple and profound prayer we know as the Our Father. This prayer is not about reciting formulas but about trusting in God’s providence. It emphasizes forgiveness as a central part of our relationship with God and with one another. Jesus makes it clear that our willingness to forgive others is directly tied to God’s forgiveness of us. This teaching challenges us to let go of grudges and to approach prayer with humility and trust.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s plan and God’s word. Isaiah assures us that God’s word is fruitful and reliable, while Jesus teaches us to approach prayer with simplicity and openness. Together, they remind us that our relationship with God is not about our own efforts or words but about trusting in His love and mercy. In our daily lives, this means turning to God’s word for guidance and approaching prayer with sincerity, not just repeating formulas. It also means living out the call to forgive others, knowing that this is how we experience God’s forgiveness in our own lives. Let us strive to trust in God’s word and to pray with the humility and simplicity that Jesus teaches.