Daily Readings - Sat Mar 16 2019
Deuteronomy
16This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.17Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:18And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;19And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.
Matthew
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Sermon
The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us of the covenant God made with his people, calling them to live according to his commandments and statutes. The Israelites are instructed to obey God with all their heart and soul, acknowledging that they have been chosen by God to be his holy people. This passage emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the relationship between God and his people: just as God chooses and blesses them, they are called to respond by living faithfully and keeping his ways. The reading invites us to reflect on our own commitment to living as God’s people, called to holiness and fidelity.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to go beyond the conventional understanding of love. He teaches that true love is not limited to those who love us but must extend even to our enemies. Jesus calls us to pray for those who persecute us and to do good to those who hate us. This radical teaching reflects the universal love of God, who sends rain and sunshine on both the just and the unjust. Jesus invites us to imitate this divine generosity and perfection, not by seeking reward or recognition, but by embracing the humility and selflessness of God’s love.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about following rules or receiving blessings but about living in a way that reflects God’s character. Just as the Israelites were called to be a holy people, we too are called to be children of God, living in a way that mirrors his love and mercy. In our daily lives, this means choosing to love even when it’s difficult, forgiving those who wrong us, and treating everyone with kindness, regardless of how they treat us. May we strive to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, not in our own strength, but by allowing his love to flow through us to all we encounter.