Today, Wednesday, March 5, 2025, is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent. The Mass readings for today are as follows:
First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
“Even now, says 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 gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
Response: 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.”
Second Reading: 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.”
Gospel: 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.'”
