1ST READING
The
Prophet Joel summarizes the message of all of the prophets when he
encourages us to make sure that we live the faith we proclaim. He also
encourages everyone to take seriously this call to holiness and ensure
that we are doing all that we can to live it, and to encourage those
close to us to do the same. Let us be faithful to this calling.
Joel 2:12-18
12 Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; 13 rend
your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For
gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and
relenting in punishment. 14 Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, offerings and libations for the Lord, your God. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; 16 gather
the people, notify the congregation; assemble the elders, gather the
children and the infants at the breast; let the bridegroom quit his
room, and the bride her chamber. 17 Between
the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord,
weep, and say, “Spare, O Lord, your people, and make not your heritage a
reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among
the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ” 18 Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on
his people.
P S A L M
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R)
2ND READING
What
does it mean to be an ambassador? It is a role of great responsibility;
it is both a privilege and a duty. The greatest message we have to
proclaim is that of reconciliation with God and others. We must take
this powerful message seriously, and we, Christians, should live it out
and become agents of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
20 Brothers
and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing
through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 6: 1 Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says: “In an acceptable time I heard you, and on
the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
GOSPEL
What
matters most is that God sees what we do. The world tells us to make
sure that we get the proper acclaim for what we do, but it is the
opposite when it comes to working in the Kingdom of God. All the glory
should be given to the Lord. If we keep it to ourselves, we are in
danger of developing a messianic complex, i.e., we think we can save
ourselves, or worse, save others.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts.
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
1 Jesus
said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in
order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense
from your heavenly Father. 2 When
you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do
in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I
say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 5 “When
you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in
the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I
say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But
when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your
Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 16 “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect
their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so
that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is
hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
think: What matters most is that God sees what we do.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 John 1-5
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