Gospel of February 17, 2021 with the comment of Pope Francis

READING OF THE DAY First reading From the book of the prophet Joel Jl 2,12: 18-XNUMX Thus says the Lord:
"Return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping and lamenting.
Tear your heart and not your clothes,
return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and merciful,
slow to anger, with great love,
ready to repent of evil ».
Who knows you don't change and repent
and leave behind a blessing?
Offering and libation for the Lord your God. Blow the horn in Zion,
proclaim a solemn fast,
call a sacred meeting.
Gather the people,
call a solemn assembly,
call the old ones,
bring together children, infants;
let the bridegroom leave his room
and marries her from her bed.
Between the vestibule and the altar they weep
the priests, ministers of the Lord, and say:
«Forgive, Lord, your people
and do not expose your inheritance to mockery
and to the derision of the people ».
Why should it be said among the peoples:
"Where is their God?" The Lord is jealous for his land
and takes pity on his people.

Second Reading From the second letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
2Cor 5,20-6,2 Brothers, we, in the name of Christ, are ambassadors: through us it is God himself who exhorts. We implore you in the name of Christ: be reconciled with God. He who had not known sin, God made him sin in our favor, so that in him we could become God's righteousness. Since we are his collaborators, we urge you not to accept grace in vain of God. He says in fact:
«At the favorable moment I answered you
and on the day of salvation I helped you ».
Here is the favorable moment, now is the day of salvation!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY From the Gospel according to Matthew Mt 6,1: 6.16-18-XNUMX At that time, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness before men to be admired by them, otherwise there is no reward for you with your Father who is in heaven. Therefore, when you give alms, do not blow the trumpet in front of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, to be praised by the people. Truly I tell you, they have already received their reward. On the other hand, while you are giving alms, let your left hand not know what your right is doing, so that your alms remain in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be similar to the hypocrites who, in the synagogues and in the corners of the squares, love to pray standing upright, to be seen by the people. Truly I tell you, they have already received their reward. Instead, when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. And when you fast, do not become melancholy like the hypocrites, who take on an air of defeat to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have already received their reward. On the other hand, when you fast, make your head shine and wash your face, so that people do not see that you are fasting, but only your Father, who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. "

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
We begin Lent by receiving the ashes: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return" (cf. Gen 3,19:2,7). The dust on the head brings us back to earth, it reminds us that we come from the earth and that we will return to earth. That is, we are weak, fragile, mortal. But we are the dust loved by God. The Lord loved to collect our dust in his hands and blow his breath of life into them (cf. Gen 26: 2020). Dear brothers and sisters, at the beginning of Lent let us realize this. Because Lent is not the time to pour useless moralisms on people, but to recognize that our miserable ashes are loved by God. It is a time of grace, to welcome the loving gaze of God on us and, in this way, to change life. (Homily Mass of Ashes, XNUMX February XNUMX)