Daily Readings for February 24, 2015

1ST READING

God speaks through Isaiah about His Word that has power to accomplish all that it promises. If we believe this, then we will be able to accomplish all that God asks of us, confident that He has given us the grace to do so. The grace of God is the secret of the saints. They knew they did not have the power to accomplish anything on their own strength, but with God’s grace it is a totally different story.

Isaiah 55:10-11

10 Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come  own and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, 11 So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

P S A L M

Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19

R: From all their distress God rescues the just.

3[4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4[5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5[6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6[7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 15[16] The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. 16[17] The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. (R) 17[18] When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. 18[19] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. (R)

GOSPEL

The Lord’s Prayer is concise and to the point. This is how we should pray. We cannot mess around with God. After all, He knows what we need even before we ourselves do. Let us trust in His love for us and be up-front with Him about all that we need to accomplish His will. He will provide whatever we need. This is the nature of faith and belief in God — there has to be a certain level of faith and belief in ourselves as well.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Matthew 6:7-15

7 Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, 10 thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread; 12 and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; 13 and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

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