Daily Readings - Tue Mar 02 2021
Isaiah
10Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!16wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong,17learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.18"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.19If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land;20but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.27Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.28But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.31The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire."
Matthew
1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:2"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.4They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.5"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'8"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.9And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.10Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.11The greatest among you will be your servant.12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful call to integrity and humility, challenging us to reflect on how we live out our faith in both word and action. In the first reading from Isaiah, the prophet addresses the leaders of Israel, urging them to turn away from corruption and injustice. He calls them to "learn to do good" and to seek justice for the oppressed, the orphan, and the widow. Isaiah emphasizes that true repentance involves more than outward rituals; it requires a transformation of the heart and a commitment to living according to God’s will. The prophet warns that if they refuse to listen and instead continue in pride and sin, they will face judgment. Yet, he also offers hope: if they are willing to change, their sins can be purified, and they will experience redemption.
In the Gospel, Jesus critiques the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. While they teach the law and sit in the chair of Moses, their actions do not match their words. They burden others with strict rules while failing to practice what they preach. Jesus condemns their love of power, prestige, and outward appearances, such as enlarged phylacteries and greetings in the marketplace. He reminds the disciples that true greatness is found in humility and service, not in titles or recognition. Jesus teaches that we are all brothers and sisters, and our only Master is Christ. This reading challenges us to examine our own hearts and actions, ensuring that we do not fall into the same traps of hypocrisy and pride.
Both readings are connected by their focus on the responsibility of leadership and the call to live authentically. Isaiah speaks to the leaders of Israel, urging them to act justly and humbly, while Jesus addresses the religious leaders of his time, exposing their hypocrisy. Together, they remind us that our faith must be lived out in concrete actions, especially in how we treat the vulnerable and the marginalized. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we living in integrity, aligning our actions with our words? Are we seeking to serve others rather than seeking power or recognition? May we humbly follow Christ’s example, remembering that true greatness lies in serving one another in love.