Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 6, 2024
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
The readings today remind us of the enduring importance of God’s law and its role in guiding our lives. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses exhorts the Israelites to observe the precepts and judgments of the Lord, emphasizing that these teachings are not just rules but a way of life. He reminds them that these laws are a gift from God, setting them apart as a wise and understanding people. Moses urges them to guard these teachings carefully, teaching them to their children and grandchildren, so that they may live in the land the Lord will give them. This passage highlights the covenantal relationship between God and his people, with the law serving as the foundation of their identity and relationship with God.
In the Gospel, Jesus affirms the importance of the law, stating unequivocally that he has not come to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them. He emphasizes that not even the smallest part of the law will pass away until all is fulfilled. Jesus teaches that those who obey and teach the commandments will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. This passage underscores the continuity between the Old and New Covenants, showing that Jesus’ mission is not to discard the law but to bring it to its fullness. The law, as given to the Israelites, finds its ultimate meaning in the person of Christ, who embodies the perfect fulfillment of God’s will.
These readings invite us to reflect on the role of God’s law in our lives. The law is not a burden but a gift, a guide for living in a way that reflects God’s wisdom and love. Just as the Israelites were called to observe the law and pass it on to future generations, we too are called to live according to God’s teachings. In our daily lives, this means striving to follow the commandments, not out of obligation, but out of love for God and a desire to live as his children. It also means being faithful in teaching the faith to others, whether through our words or by the example of our lives. Let us remember that the law is not just a set of rules but a path to holiness, and let us seek to live with integrity and fidelity, trusting that God’s ways are always for our good.