Daily Mass Readings – Wednesday, 16 June 2027

6 Now this I say: He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly: and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap blessings.

7 Every one as he hath determined in his heart, not with sadness, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound in you; that ye always, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work,

9 As it is written: He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever.

10 And he that ministereth seed to the sower, will both give you bread to eat, and will multiply your seed, and increase the growth of the fruits of your justice:

11 That being enriched in all things, you may abound unto all simplicity, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.

R. (1b) Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or

R. Alleluia.

1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or

R. Alleluia.

3 Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.

4 To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate and just.

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or

R. Alleluia.

9 He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or

R. Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

23 Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

1 Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou dost an almsdeed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

3 But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.

4 That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

5 And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

6 But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

16 And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.

God is concerned with the truth of our hearts. Scripture joins generous giving, prayer, and fasting together, showing that these practices become fruitful when they are offered to God rather than performed for human approval. The cheerful giver does not cling anxiously to what has been received, because God is able to provide what is needed for every good work. The righteous person distributes to the poor, and a light rises in the darkness because mercy, compassion, and justice have taken root.

Jesus therefore asks for a faith that can remain hidden. The Father sees the alms no one applauds, the prayer no one hears, and the fasting no one recognizes. This hidden life is not insignificant; it is where love becomes sincere. The Alleluia points to the same truth: loving Christ means keeping his word, and his word forms our actions from within. We can examine the quiet choices of each day: Do we give freely, pray honestly, and practice self-denial without needing to be noticed? Such offerings may seem small, yet God receives them and makes them bear fruit in justice and thanksgiving.

Father in heaven, you see what is hidden and know the intention behind every gift, prayer, and sacrifice. Purify my heart from the desire for praise. Teach me to give generously and cheerfully, to pray with honesty, and to fast with quiet humility. Help me keep the word of your Son when no one is watching, trusting that your grace is sufficient for every good work. Make my life a source of mercy, compassion, and justice, and let the good I do lead to thanksgiving rather than self-glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.