Daily Readings - Wed Feb 22 2023
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
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the sincerity of our faith and the authenticity of our relationship with God. The prophet Joel calls us to return to the Lord with our whole heart, emphasizing that true conversion involves rending our hearts, not just our garments. This is a call to move beyond outward signs of repentance and to engage in a deeper, more personal transformation. Joel’s words are set in a context of impending crisis, urging the people to turn back to God before the Day of the Lord, a time of judgment and reckoning. His plea is not just for individual conversion but for a communal turning to God, involving all members of society, from the elders to the infants.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians complements Joel’s message by emphasizing the urgency of reconciliation with God. Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. He urges us not to receive God’s grace in vain, quoting Isaiah to stress that now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation. This passage is part of Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians to live out their faith with integrity, recognizing that God’s grace is not to be taken lightly but to transform their lives. Like Joel, Paul is calling for a sincere and immediate response to God’s invitation.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus teaching about the importance of practicing justice, prayer, and fasting in secret, rather than seeking to be seen by others. Jesus criticizes the hypocrisy of those who perform religious acts for the sake of appearances, emphasizing that true devotion is rewarded by God, who sees what is done in secret. This teaching is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus contrasts the superficial righteousness of the Pharisees with the authentic righteousness of those who follow him. Like Joel and Paul, Jesus calls for a faith that is heartfelt and sincere, not one that seeks human approval.
These readings remind us that our relationship with God is not about outward appearances but about the condition of our hearts. They call us to live our faith with authenticity, humility, and urgency. In our daily lives, this means practicing our faith in a way that is genuine and not self-serving. It means praying, giving alms, and fasting not to be seen by others but to deepen our connection with God. It also means recognizing that the time for conversion and reconciliation is now, not later. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Is my faith heartfelt and sincere? Am I living in a way that truly reflects my commitment to God? Let us turn to the Lord with our whole heart, trusting that he sees and rewards what is done in secret.