Daily Readings - Sat Feb 24 2018
Deuteronomy
16"This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.17You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.18And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments,19and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised."
Matthew
43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of God’s call to live a life of deep commitment and love. The first reading from Deuteronomy emphasizes the Israelites’ covenant with God, where they are called to follow His commandments with all their heart and soul. This passage highlights the special relationship between God and His people, a relationship rooted in fidelity and obedience. The Gospel from Matthew takes this a step further, as Jesus challenges us to go beyond loving only those who love us. He calls us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, and to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. This teaching pushes us to move beyond superficial relationships and to embrace a radical love that mirrors God’s own love for the world.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on living out our faith in a way that reflects God’s holiness and love. In Deuteronomy, the Israelites are set apart as a holy people, chosen by God for a special purpose. In Matthew, Jesus calls us to live out this holiness by loving even those who may not deserve it. Both readings remind us that our relationship with God is not just about rituals or rules, but about living in a way that reflects His character. Just as the Israelites were called to walk in God’s ways, we too are called to live as children of God, imitating His mercy and love.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are challenged to examine how we treat others, especially those who may be difficult or hostile toward us. Do we pray for those who wrong us, or do we hold grudges? Do we go out of our way to show kindness to those who may not reciprocate it? Jesus’ words remind us that true holiness is not about being better than others, but about being like God—merciful, compassionate, and generous. As we strive to live out this radical love, we become a reflection of God’s perfection in a world that often lacks it. Let us ask ourselves today: Am I living in a way that truly reflects God’s love? Am I choosing to love even when it’s hard? In doing so, we not only fulfill our covenant with God, but we also become a light of hope and holiness in a world that desperately needs it.