Daily Readings - Sat Mar 07 2020
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 hear from Deuteronomy and Matthew, both of which invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our neighbors. The first reading from Deuteronomy 26:16-19 emphasizes the Israelites' commitment to following God's commandments and their identity as God's chosen people. This passage is part of Moses' farewell address, where he reminds the Israelites of their covenant with God and their responsibility to live according to His laws. The second reading from Matthew 5:43-48 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He challenges His listeners to move beyond conventional wisdom. Jesus expands the traditional understanding of love, which was often limited to neighbors, to include even enemies. He calls His followers to pray for their persecutors and to strive for the same perfection as their heavenly Father.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on living out one's faith in a way that reflects God's character. In Deuteronomy, the Israelites are called to observe God's commandments and to be a holy people, set apart for His glory. In Matthew, Jesus takes this idea further by teaching that true holiness involves loving those who may not love us in return. Both readings highlight the importance of living in a way that mirrors God's love and justice. While the first reading focuses on the external observance of laws, the Gospel challenges us to cultivate an interior disposition of love that transcends human boundaries.
As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to examine how we live out our faith in our daily lives. Loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us is no easy task, but it is precisely this kind of love that sets us apart as children of God. In a world that often values reciprocity and self-interest, Jesus calls us to a higher standard—one that reflects the boundless and unconditional love of our heavenly Father. Let us ask ourselves: Do we limit our love to those who love us back, or do we strive to love as God loves? May we, like the Israelites, choose to walk in God's ways and may we, like Jesus teaches, be perfect as our Father is perfect.