Daily Mass Readings – Sunday, 27 February 2028

4 As when one sifteth with a sieve, the dust will remain: so will the perplexity of a man in his thoughts.

5 The furnace trieth the potter’s vessels, and the trial of affliction just men.

6 Be the dressing of a tree sheweth the fruit thereof, so a word out of the thought of the heart of man.

7 Praise not a man before he speaketh, for this is the trial of men.

R. (2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

2 It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to thy name, O most High.

3 To shew forth thy mercy in the morning, and thy truth in the night:

R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

13 The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.

14 They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.

R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

15 They shall still increase in a fruitful old age: and shall be well treated,

16 That they may shew, That the Lord our God is righteous, and there is no iniquity in him.

R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

54 And when this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?

56 Now the sting of death is sin: and the power of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast and unmoveable; always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

15d, 16a Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

39 And he spoke also to them a similitude: Can the blind lead the blind? do they not both fall into the ditch?

40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one shall be perfect, if he be as his master.

41 And why seest thou the mote in thy brother’s eye: but the beam that is in thy own eye thou considerest not?

42 Or how canst thou say to thy brother: Brother, let me pull the mote out of thy eye, when thou thyself seest not the beam in thy own eye? Hypocrite, cast first the beam out of thy own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to take out the mote from thy brother’s eye.

43 For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit; nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit.

44 For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape.

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Scripture directs our attention beneath appearances, to the heart from which our words and actions come. Just as a sieve reveals what remains and a furnace tests a vessel, our speech discloses what is being stored within us. Before correcting another person, Jesus asks us to face the beam in our own eye. Clear sight begins with humility: we allow the Lord to uncover our sin so that our judgment may become mercy rather than hypocrisy.

This inner conversion bears visible fruit. A good tree is known by its fruit, and a heart planted in the house of the Lord can flourish with lasting faithfulness. The word of life makes us shine as we hold firmly to it, teaching us to speak goodness and persevere in the work of the Lord. That perseverance is grounded in Christ’s victory over sin and death; our labor is not in vain. When we let him purify the heart, our words can heal, our correction can serve love, and our lives can quietly show that the Lord is righteous.

Lord Jesus, you know the hidden places of my heart and the fruit that grows from them. Give me humility to recognize my own faults before I speak about the faults of others. Purify my thoughts, desires, and words, so that what comes from me may be good and life-giving. Plant me deeply in your presence, that I may remain steadfast when tested and faithful in the work you have given me. Because you have conquered sin and death, keep me from discouragement and help my life shine with the word of truth. Amen.