Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

–   That we dare to see what is wrong in our Church and in society and voice our protest, we pray:

–   That leaders in the Church and in politics may not let deeds of hunger for power or greed contradict their words and promises, we pray:

–   That we may all care for widows and orphans and for those who have a hard time in life, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God,
we are gathered before you
with your Son in our midst.
May we learn from him
that to celebrate the eucharist
is no substitute for committing ourselves
to the work of justice and mercy
but its source of strength.
May we build up among us
your kingdom of peace.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God, you send us
to be your community,
to be your sign to the world.
May we not draw attention
to ourselves or to our practices,
but go to you together as your people
and guide the world to you.
May service and love be our humble way,
and may Jesus lead us,
he who is your Son and our Lord for ever.

Blessing

May God give us a sense of honesty with ourselves and with God, that we may not pretend to be better than we are and do nothing just for the sake of being seen by people. God knows, and that is enough. May the holy, truthful God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTION:

Matthew 23:1-12

The temptation of duplicity

Today’s Gospel passage is set in Jesus's final days in Jerusalem, filled with expectations andtension. On the one hand, Jesus directs harsh criticism at the scribes and Pharisees, and on the other, he entrusts crucial mandates to Christians of all times and, thus, to us.

When our faith is reduced to empty words, unconcerned with the lives and needs of others,the creed we profess proves inconsistent with the life we lead. The Pharisees and scribes lived in duplicity, trying to hide their inconsistency to protect their reputations.

And so, they performed acts of piety to impress the crowd to appear righteous and to "saveface", as we say. This trick is widespread – they put makeup on their faces, makeup on their life, makeup on their hearts… And these “made-up” people do not know how to live the truth. And many times, even we experience the temptation ofduplicity.

Commenting on the gospel passage, Pope Francis says, “A common mistake of those in civil or ecclesiastical authority is demanding people to do things — even righteous things — that they fail to practise in the first person. They live a double life. If it is wrongly exercised, authority becomes oppressive, creates a climate of distrust and hostility, and leads to corruption.

Let us turn to the Holy Virgin. May she who lived with integrity and humility of heart according to the will of God help us become credible witnesses of the Gospel.

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Matthew 23:1-12

Grow in humility and eagerness to serve

The Gospel today challenges us to do away with our ambitions for power, positions and recognition. One of the great temptations in the spiritual life is the “Chair of Moses”—a place of authority that can foster pride and superiority. Jesus warns against the danger of intellectual Phariseeism, where knowledge becomes a tool of control rather than a gift of service. When we use our knowledge of faith to judge or dominate others, we manipulate God's Word and cause wounds in the hearts of those who are still growing in their faith. This Lent, we are invited to reflect: Do I use what I know and what I have, to uplift others or to feel superior?

Another challenge in our journey is the desire to be seen and recognised. Acts of charity or devotion lose their meaning when they are done to gain admiration or social status. Jesus teaches that true service is hidden, flowing from a heart that seeks to glorify God rather than oneself. This Lent, we are called to serve without expecting anything in return, recognising that every small act of love is seen by the Father.

Finally, the Gospel reminds us that authentic service is not mere assistance but a profound act of self-giving love. It is only when we serve with humility and love that we become pilgrims who relieve the burdens of others and sow seeds of hope.

This Lent, let us ask God to free our hearts from pride and selfishness and journey together towards Easter’s promise of new life.

“The greatest among you must be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).

Grow in humility and eagerness to serve - Youtube