Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 18, 2020
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4.1, 5-9
1"And now, O Israel, listen to the precepts and judgments which I am teaching to you, so that, by doing these, you may live, and you may enter and possess the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, will give to you5You know that I have taught you precepts as well as justices, just as the Lord my God has commanded me. And so shall you do in the land that you will possess6And you shall observe and fulfill these in practice. For this is your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, so that, upon hearing all these precepts, they may say: ‘Lo, a wise and understanding people, a great nation.7Neither is there any other nation so great, which has its gods so near to them, as our God is present to all our petitions8For what other nation is there so renowned as to have ceremonies, and just judgments, and the entire law that I will set forth today before your eyes9And so, guard yourself and your soul carefully. You should not forget the words that your eyes have seen, and do not let them be cut away from your heart, throughout all the days of your life. You shall teach them to your sons and to your grandsons
Psalm 147
1Alleluia. Praise the Lord, because the psalm is good. Delightful and beautiful praise shall be for our God2The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He will gather together the dispersed of Israel3He heals the contrite of heart, and he binds up their sorrows4He numbers the multitude of the stars, and he calls them all by their names5Great is our Lord, and great is his virtue. And of his wisdom, there is no number6The Lord lifts up the meek, but he brings down the sinner, even to the ground7Sing before the Lord with confession. Play psalms to our God on a stringed instrument8He covers heaven with clouds, and he prepares rain for the earth. He produces grass on the mountains and herbs for the service of men9He gives their food to beasts of burden and to young ravens that call upon him10He will not have good will for the strength of the horse, nor will he be well pleased with the legs of a man11The Lord is well pleased with those who fear him and with those who hope in his mercy12Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. Praise your God, O Zion13For he has reinforced the bars of your gates. He has blessed your sons within you14He has stationed peace at your borders, and he has satisfied you with the fat of the grain15He sends forth his eloquence to the earth. His word runs swiftly16He provides snow like wool. He strews clouds like ashes17He sends his ice crystals like morsels. Who can stand firm before the face of his cold18He will send forth his word, and it will melt them. His Spirit will breathe out, and the waters will flow19He announces his word to Jacob, his justices and his judgments to Israel20He has not done so much for every nation, and he has not made his judgments manifest to them. Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 5.17-19
17Do not think that I have come to loosen the law or the prophets. I have not come to loosen, but to fulfill18Amen I say to you, certainly, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota, not one dot shall pass away from the law, until all is done19Therefore, whoever will have loosened one of the least of these commandments, and have taught men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever will have done and taught these, such a one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the enduring importance of God’s law and its role in our lives. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses exhorts the people of Israel to listen to and observe the precepts and judgments he has taught them. These laws are not just rules to be followed; they are a way of life that will allow them to thrive in the land God is giving them. Moses emphasizes that these laws are a source of wisdom and a witness to the closeness of God, who is near to His people and hears their petitions. He urges them to guard these laws carefully and pass them on to future generations.
In the Gospel, Jesus reaffirms the importance of the law. He makes it clear that He has not come to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them. This means that every part of the law, down to the smallest detail, remains in force until all things are accomplished. Jesus warns that loosening even the smallest commandment and teaching others to do so diminishes one’s place in the kingdom of heaven. Conversely, those who observe and teach the commandments will be considered great in the kingdom.
These readings challenge us to reflect on how we approach God’s law in our daily lives. The law is not a burden but a gift, a guide for living in a way that honors God and fosters love and justice. Like the Israelites, we are called to internalize God’s teachings and pass them on to others. Jesus’ words remind us that our faith is not just about grand gestures but about fidelity to the small, everyday choices that reflect our commitment to His will. Let us strive to live in such a way that our actions and decisions bear witness to the wisdom and love of God’s law, and may we be among those who are considered great in the kingdom of heaven.