Daily Readings - Wed Feb 17 2021
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 guide us on a journey of sincerity and humility in our faith. Joel calls us to repentance, urging us to turn our hearts fully to God through genuine fasting and prayer, rather than outward displays. This inward focus is echoed by Paul, who reminds us to live as true ambassadors of Christ, embracing His grace with heartfelt commitment. Jesus, in the Gospel, teaches us to practice our faith humbly, seeking God's approval rather than human praise.
These passages remind us that our faith should be a deeply personal and sincere relationship with God. Whether in prayer, fasting, or acts of charity, our focus should be on pleasing Him rather than seeking the admiration of others. The call to be ambassadors for Christ and to live as the righteousness of God is a profound reminder of our mission to embody His love and grace in the world.
In our daily lives, let us reflect on our motivations and ensure that our actions are guided by a sincere desire to honor God. By embracing humility and authenticity, we cultivate a faith that is not only genuine but also transformative. Let us strive to live in such a way that our hearts are always turned toward God, seeking His reward and approval above all else.