Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 15, 2023
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4.1, 5-9
1"And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.5See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.6Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'7For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?8And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?9"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children--
Psalm 147
1Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.5Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.6The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!8He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.9He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.10His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,11but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!13For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.14He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.15He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.16He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.17He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?18He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.19He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.20He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!
Gospel: Matthew 5.17-19
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore the enduring significance of God's laws, bridging the Old and New Testaments. The first reading from Deuteronomy captures Moses' final instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He emphasizes the importance of adhering to God's precepts, not merely as rules, but as a source of wisdom and identity. Moses urges them to remember these teachings and pass them down to future generations, highlighting the laws as a gift that sets them apart as a wise and holy people.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus reinforces the permanence of the law, declaring that He has come not to abolish but to fulfill it. He underscores that every part of the law remains vital, down to the smallest detail, until all is accomplished. Jesus teaches that true greatness in the kingdom of heaven comes from living and teaching these commandments, not from loosening them. This aligns with Moses' message, showing that the law's essence endures, guiding believers in their relationship with God.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded that God's commandments are not mere regulations but a blueprint for a life of love, wisdom, and holiness. Just as the Israelites were called to be a light to the nations, we too are called to live out our faith authentically. This involves not only following the laws but also embracing them as a way to reflect God's love in the world. The moral lesson here is the importance of staying rooted in God's teachings, living them out faithfully, and sharing them with others, just as Moses and Jesus exemplified. In doing so, we find true wisdom and greatness in God's eyes.