The Lesson today is from the Prophet Isaias, 58. 1-9, in which God rejects hypocritical fasting and recommends works of mercy, and sincere godliness.The 1962 Roman Missal says of this passage:
The external works of penance such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, which should be practised during Lent, have no value in the sight of God unless they are accompanied by the spirit of interior sacrifice or self-denial.
The Gospel is from St. Matthew 5. 43-48; 6. 1-4. It is the passage where Jesus tells his disciples that they must love, pray for, and do good for their enemies, so that they can be the children of the Father who makes the sun rise on the good and bad, and the rain fall on the just and unjust. Later, He tells them to not to do their good deeds and almsgiving in public, hoping for praise, but to do them in secret and the Father who sees what they do will give them their reward.
From the Missal:
The spirit of interior sacrifice shows itself in works of mercy made out of consideration for our neighbor, without distinction of friend or enemy, and with the sole intention of pleasing God. Let us ask for the spirit of sacrifice or self-denial.
The Collect for today:
Further with Thy gracious favour, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the fasts which we have begun: that the bodily observance which we keep, we may be able also to practise with sincere intention. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and thy Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Amen †
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