Daily Mass Readings – Sunday, 13 February 2028

5 Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

6 For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see when good shall come: but he shall dwell in dryness in the desert in a salt land, and not inhabited.

7 Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence.

8 And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it shall not fear when the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall be green, and in the time of drought it shall not be solicitous, neither shall it cease at any time to bring forth fruit.

R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

1 Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

3 And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

4 Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

12 Now if Christ be preached, that he arose again from the dead, how do some among you say, that there is no resurrection of the dead?

16 For if the dead rise not again, neither is Christ risen again.

17 And if Christ be not risen again, your faith is vain, for you are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ, are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that sleep:

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

23ab Rejoice and be glad; your reward will be great in heaven.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

17 And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast both of Tyre and Sidon,

20 And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said: Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for you shall laugh.

22 Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

23 Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets.

24 But woe to you that are rich: for you have your consolation.

25 Woe to you that are filled: for you shall hunger. Woe to you that now laugh: for you shall mourn and weep.

26 Woe to you when men shall bless you: for according to these things did their fathers to the false prophets.

Scripture places two ways before us: trusting in human strength, or letting the Lord become our confidence. The one who relies on what cannot save becomes like dry ground; the one who hopes in God is like a tree rooted beside living water. Such a person is not promised freedom from heat or drought, but is given the grace to remain fruitful through them. The psalm shows where this rootedness grows: in delighting in God’s law and meditating on it continually.

Jesus gives this trust a deeper horizon. The poor, hungry, weeping, and rejected are blessed because God’s kingdom and reward are greater than their present condition. His warnings expose the danger of being satisfied with riches, comfort, approval, or present laughter as though these were lasting security. Christian hope is not wishful thinking: Christ has truly risen, the firstfruits of those who sleep. His resurrection assures us that faith is not vain and that present hardship does not have the final word. We can therefore measure our choices by God’s promise rather than by immediate success, remaining close to his word and generous with what we have received.

Lord God, be the confidence of my heart. Keep me from placing my hope in wealth, approval, comfort, or human strength. Root me beside the living waters of your word, so that hardship will not make me barren and abundance will not make me forgetful of you. Through the risen Christ, deepen my trust in the life to come. Give me compassion for those who hunger, weep, or are rejected, and teach me to use what I possess with humility and generosity. May your kingdom be my true treasure and your promise my lasting joy. Amen.