Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent (Feb. 23, 2016)

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/isaiah/1:10 IS 1:10, 16-20 Hear the word of the LORD,princes of Sodom!Listen to the instruction of our God,people of Gomorrah!Wash yourselves clean!Put away your misdeeds from before my eyescease doing evil learn to do good.Make justice your aimand redress the wronged,hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.Come now, let us set things right,says the LORDandThough your sins be like scarlet,they may become white as snowThough they be crimson red,they may become white as wool.If you are willing, and obey,you shall eat the good things of the landBut if you refuse and resist,the sword shall consume youandfor the mouth of the LORD has spoken! Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/50and8 PS 50and8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23 R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,for your burnt offerings are before me always.I take from your house no bullock,no goats out of your fold.” R.To the upright I will show the saving power of God. Why do you recite my statutes,and profess my covenant with your mouth,Though you hate disciplineand cast my words behind you?” R.To the upright I will show the saving power of God. When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?Or do you think that I am like yourself?I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies meand to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” R.To the upright I will show the saving power of God . Verse Before The Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/18:31 EZ 18:31 Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/matthew/23:1 MT 23:1-12 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Phariseeshave taken their seat on the chair of Moses.Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,but do not follow their example.For they preach but they do not practice.They tie up heavy burdens hard to carryand lay them on people’s shoulders,but they will not lift a finger to move them.All their works are performed to be seen.They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.Call no one on earth your fatheryou have but one Father in heaven.Do not be called ‘Master’you have but one master, the Christ.The greatest among you must be your servant.Whoever exalts himself will be humbledbut whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”