O God, you have compassion on all and do not reject anything you have created; you close your eyes to their sins because of penance and forgive them, because you are the Lord our God (Wis 11:23, 24, 26).

 

O God, you have compassion on all and do not reject anything you have created; you close your eyes to their sins because of penance and forgive them, because you are the Lord our God (Wis 11:23, 24, 26).

Forty days separate us from Easter. The liturgical season of Lent, which begins today, and the Campaign for Fraternity invite us to conversion. This year, the theme of the campaign is “Fraternity and integral ecology”, with the motto “God saw that everything was very good” (Gen 1:31). In the midst of the Jubilee Year, let us live with commitment this time of grace and reconciliation with all.

First Reading: Joel 2:12-18

The Word of God illuminates our paths in this favorable time of conversion. Let us accept its call with a sincere heart to intensify charity, prayer and fasting in our lives.

A reading from the book of the prophet Joel – 12“Now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. 13Rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and willing to remit punishment.” 14Who knows if he will turn to you and forgive you, and leave behind him a blessing, an offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God? 15Blow the trumpet in Zion, proclaim a fast, call a solemn assembly; 16gather the people, hold a solemn ceremony, assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing infants; let the bridegroom leave his chamber and the bride her bed. 17Let the holy ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say: “Forgive your people, O Lord, and do not let your inheritance suffer shame, or let the nations rule over it.” Why should people say among the peoples, “Where is their God?” 18Then the Lord was jealous for his land and forgave his people. – The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 50(51)

Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

1. Have mercy, O my God, in your great love, cleanse me; / Wash me completely from my sin / and blot out my guilt. – R.

2. I acknowledge all my iniquity, / my sin is ever before me. / Against you, you alone, have I sinned, / I have done what is evil in your sight! – R.

3. Create in me a pure heart, / a steadfast spirit; / cast me not away from your presence, O Lord, / and take not your Holy Spirit from me! – R.

4. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, / and establish me with a willing spirit. / Open my lips, O Lord, to sing, / and my mouth will declare your praise! – R.

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

A reading from the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians – Brothers and sisters, 20we are ambassadors for Christ, and God himself makes his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him who committed no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 6:1 As co-workers with Christ, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain, 2for he says: “In the time of my favor I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Now is the time of my favor, now is the day of salvation. – The word of the Lord.

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Blessed are you, Christ Jesus, / the Anointed One of God the Father!

If only you would hear his voice today: / Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah! (Ps 94:8) – R.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew – At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: 1“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of men to be seen by them, or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2Therefore when you give to the needy, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 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. And your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 5When 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. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 16When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do. They disfigure their faces so that men may see that they are fasting. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may not be seen by men, but only by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

The Church opens Lent by proposing the Gospel of Matthew, which presents three practices that are very common in various religions: