Daily Readings - Sat Mar 07 2020
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
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.