Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 9, 2020
First Reading: Isaiah 58.6-10
6"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?7Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?8Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,10and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
Psalm 112
1Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.2His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.4Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.5Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.6Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.7He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.8His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.10The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2.1-5
1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Gospel: Matthew 5.13-16
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true faith and how it should manifest in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we are reminded that fasting is not just about abstaining from food but about living out our faith in tangible ways. Isaiah calls us to break free from the chains of injustice, to feed the hungry, and to shelter the homeless. This is the kind of fasting that pleases God—a fasting that leads to action, compassion, and justice. The prophet emphasizes that when we live in this way, our light will shine brightly, and God’s presence will be evident in our lives.
In the second reading, St. Paul humbly shares his approach to preaching the Gospel. He did not rely on eloquent words or human wisdom but instead focused on the power of the cross. Paul’s message was simple yet profound: the crucified Christ is the heart of our faith. He reminds us that our faith should not be rooted in human wisdom but in the power of God. This reading challenges us to trust in God’s wisdom rather than our own and to proclaim the Gospel with humility and sincerity.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the metaphors of salt and light to describe the role of his followers in the world. Just as salt enhances flavor and light illuminates darkness, we are called to make a positive impact in the world around us. Jesus warns us against losing our saltiness or hiding our light. Instead, we are to let our good works shine so that others may see the goodness of God and glorify Him. This teaching reminds us that our faith is not just a private matter but something that should influence and transform the world.
These readings are interconnected in their call to live out our faith authentically. Isaiah emphasizes the importance of living justly and compassionately, Paul highlights the simplicity and power of the Gospel, and Jesus challenges us to be agents of transformation in the world. Together, they remind us that our faith should be visible in our actions, our words, and our commitment to justice and love. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I living out my faith? Am I a source of light and salt in my community? Let us strive to live in such a way that God’s presence is evident in our lives, and His love shines through us to a world in need.