Begin Lenten preparation for the Easter Triduum. NOT a holy day of obligation. Day of fast (ages 18-59) and abstinence from meat (age 14 and up).

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Joel 2:12-18

 Yahweh says, “Yet even now, return to me

With your whole heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Rend your heart, not your garment. Return to Yahweh, your God – gracious and com­passionate.”

Yahweh is slow to anger, full of kindness, and he repents of having punished.  Who knows? Probably he will relent once more and spare some part of the harvest from which we may bring sacred offerings to Yahweh, your God.

 Blow  the  trumpet  in  Zion,  pro­claim a sacred fast, call a solemn assembly.  Gather the people, sanctify the community, bring together the elders, even the children and infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his bed, and the bride her room.

 Between the vestibule and the altar, let the priests, Yahweh’s ministers, weep and say: Spare your people, Yahweh. Do not humble them or make them an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peo­ples: Where is their God?  Yahweh has become jealous for his land; he has had pity on his people.

 

Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 & 17

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

 Be careful not to make a show of your righteousness before peo­ple. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in heaven. When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be seen in the synagogues and in the streets in order to be praised by the people.

I assure you, they have been already paid in full.  If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

 When you pray, do not be like those who want to be seen. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 

When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you.  When you fast, do not put on a mis­­­­erable face as do the hypocrites.

They put on a gloomy face, so people can see they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father who sees beyond appearances. And your Father, who sees what is kept secret will reward you.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Spiritual activities are not meant for show. After all, they are done to cultivate a personal relationship with God. since it is personal, it is between the believer and God.

Hence those who make a show of their piety is not concerned about the growth of their relationship with God but their performance in front of others. They are focused on the outward appearance that they lose track of the inner workings of God in their life.

Thus they miss the chance of knowing God better. They are too preoccupied with themselves. God has no room in their lives.