Wednesday, February 22, 2012 (Ash Wednesday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If we try to escape sadness by seeking our consolation in sleep,we will fail to find what we are seeking, for we will lose in sleep the consolation we might have recieved from God if we had stayed awake and prayed.
-- St. Thomas More

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Joel 2:12-18(A Call to Repentance)
12 “Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 Tear your heart, and not your garments, And turn to Yahweh, your God; For he is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, And relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind him, Even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly.

16 Gather the people. Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the elders. Gather the children, and those who suck the breasts. Let the bridegroom go forth from his room, And the bride out of her chamber.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh, And don’t give your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

18 Then Yahweh was jealous for his land, And had pity on his people.

Psalms: Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17

3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

4 Against you, and you only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in your sight; That you may be proved right when you speak, And justified when you judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20 -- 6:2

2 Corinthians 5: 20 - 21

20 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 6: 1 - 2

1 Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,

2 for he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you, In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18(Teachings about Charity, Prayer and Fasting)1 “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward.

3 But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,

4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

5 “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

16 “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward.

17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;

18 so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.