#ScriptureReflection from Joel, Psalms, 2 Corinthians & the Book of Matthew (2.17.21)

Joel 2:12-18

Return to the Lord.
Yet even now - oracle of the LORD -
    return to me with your whole heart,
    with fasting, weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
    and return to the LORD, your God.
For he is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
    and leave behind a blessing,
Grain offering and libation
    for the LORD, your God.

Blow the horn in Zion!
    Proclaim a fast,
    call an assembly!
Gather the people,
    sanctify the congregation;
Assemble the elderly,
    gather the children
    even infants nursing at the breast;
Let the bridegroom leave his room
    and the bride her bridal tent.
Between the porch and the altar
    let the priests weep, let the ministers of the
    LORD weep,
And say, “Spare your people, LORD!
    do not let your heritage become a disgrace,
    a byword among the nations!
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
    and took pity on his people.

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

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
    in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
    and of my sin cleanse me.

For I acknowledge my offense,
    and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
    and done what is evil in your sight.”

A clean heart create for me, O God,
    and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
    and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
    and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

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2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2

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.
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.

Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
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.

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Psalm 95:8

If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.

 

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Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

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.
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.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“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.
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.

“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.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
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.”

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