Daily Readings - Sat Feb 27 2021
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 are invited to reflect on the profound themes of covenant, love, and holiness. The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us of the sacred bond between God and His people. The Israelites, having chosen to follow the Lord, are called to live according to His commandments and statutes, not out of obligation, but as a people set apart, holy and beloved. This passage emphasizes the mutual choosing—God chooses us, and we choose Him—highlighting the intimate and intentional nature of this relationship.
The Gospel from Matthew expands this idea of covenant and holiness, challenging us to live it out in a radical way. Jesus teaches us to love not just our neighbors but also our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, and to extend kindness to those who hate us. This is not merely a suggestion but a call to imitate the perfection of our heavenly Father, who showers His blessings equally on the just and the unjust. Jesus reminds us that loving only those who love us back is no different from the way the world operates. True holiness, therefore, lies in going beyond the ordinary, in mirroring God’s universal and unconditional love.
These readings remind us that being chosen by God is not a privilege but a responsibility. It calls us to live in a way that reflects His nature—merciful, generous, and perfect. In our daily lives, this means breaking free from the limits of our natural inclinations and embracing the supernatural love that Jesus exemplified. Let us ask ourselves: Do we love only those who are easy to love, or do we stretch our hearts to include those who challenge us? Do we pray for those who wrong us, or do we hold onto resentment? The path to holiness is not about being better than others but about being open vessels of God’s love, even when it’s difficult. As we strive to live this way, we become the light of the world, reflecting the perfect love of our Father in heaven.