Daily Readings - Sun Oct 25 2020
Exodus
21You shall not harass the newcomer, nor shall you afflict him. For you yourselves were once newcomers in the land of Egypt22You shall not harm a widow or an orphan23If you hurt them, they will cry out to me, and I will hear their cry24And my fury will be enraged, and I will strike you down with the sword. And your wives will become widows, and your sons will become orphans25If you lend money to the poor of my people who live among you, you shall not coerce them like a collector, nor oppress them with usury26If you take a garment from your neighbor as a pledge, you shall return it to him again before the setting of the sun27For it is all that he has to cover himself, to clothe his body; nor does he have anything else in which to sleep. If he cries out to me, I will hear him, because I am compassionate
1 Thessalonians
5For our Gospel has not been among you in word alone, but also in virtue, and in the Holy Spirit, and with a great fullness, in the same manner as you know we have acted among you for your sake6And so, you became imitators of us and of the Lord, accepting the Word in the midst of great tribulation, but with the joy of the Holy Spirit7So have you become a pattern for all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia8For from you, the Word of the Lord was spread, not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith, which is toward God, has advanced so much so that we do not need to speak to you about anything9For others are reporting among us of the kind of acceptance we had among you, and how you were converted from idols to God, to the service of the living and true God10and to the expectation of his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead), Jesus, who has rescued us from the approaching wrath
Matthew
34But the Pharisees, hearing that he had caused the Sadducees to be silent, came together as one35And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned him, to test him36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?37Jesus said to him: " ‘You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.38This is the greatest and first commandment39But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40On these two commandments the entire law depends, and also the prophets.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the importance of love and compassion. The first reading from Exodus emphasizes social justice, urging us not to oppress newcomers, widows, or orphans, and to act with kindness towards those in need. This reflects a society built on care and empathy. The second reading from 1 Thessalonians highlights the transformative power of the Gospel, as the Thessalonians, despite trials, became a beacon of faith, inspiring others through their joy and commitment. This shows the positive impact of living out our beliefs. The Gospel from Matthew brings these themes together, as Jesus teaches that the greatest commandments are to love God and our neighbor, underscoring that love is the foundation of all we do.
These readings connect by illustrating how our actions reflect our faith. Exodus and Matthew both stress the importance of treating others with love and respect, while 1 Thessalonians demonstrates the fruit of living these values. Together, they call us to a life where love for God and neighbor guides our interactions, leading to a compassionate and just community.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are encouraged to embrace opportunities to show love and kindness, whether in our families, workplaces, or communities. By living out these commandments, we not only honor God but also create a positive impact around us. Let us reflect on how we can embody this love, transforming our relationships and the world around us through compassion and care.