Daily Readings - Sat Mar 12 2022
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 readings today invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and with others. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, we hear about the covenant between God and his people. The Israelites are reminded that they have been chosen by God to be a holy people, called to walk in His ways and keep His commandments. This is not just about following rules, but about a deep, personal relationship with the living God who has chosen them for His own praise and name. This passage reminds us of our own calling as followers of God, to live a life set apart for Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea of being set apart and takes it a radical step further. He challenges us to love not just our neighbors, but even our enemies. He says, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." This doesn't mean we have to be sinless, but rather that we are to reflect God's character of boundless love and mercy. The Father sends the sun and the rain on both the good and the bad. So too, we are called to love without limits, even those who oppose or harm us. This is not a suggestion but a command, one that cuts against the grain of our natural inclinations.
So, how do we live this out? It starts with prayer. We are to pray for those who persecute us, that they might come to know the love of God. It means choosing to do good even when it's hard, even when we don't feel like it. It means greeting others with kindness, not just our friends but everyone. This is the way of holiness, the way of being perfect as the Father is perfect. It's not easy, but it's the path to true life and true love. Let us ask for the grace to love as God loves, without limits or conditions, that we might truly be the children of our heavenly Father.
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The readings today invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and with others. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, we hear about the covenant between God and his people. The Israelites are reminded that they have been chosen by God to be a holy people, called to walk in His ways and keep His commandments. This is not just about following rules, but about a deep, personal relationship with the living God who has chosen them for His own praise and name. This passage reminds us of our own calling as followers of God, to live a life set apart for Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea of being set apart and takes it a radical step further. He challenges us to love not just our neighbors, but even our enemies. He says, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." This doesn't mean we have to be sinless, but rather that we are to reflect God's character of boundless love and mercy. The Father sends the sun and the rain on both the good and the bad. So too, we are called to love without limits, even those who oppose or harm us. This is not a suggestion but a command, one that cuts against the grain of our natural inclinations.
So, how do we live this out? It starts with prayer. We are to pray for those who persecute us, that they might come to know the love of God. It means choosing to do good even when it's hard, even when we don't feel like it. It means greeting others with kindness, not just our friends but everyone. This is the way of holiness, the way of being perfect as the Father is perfect. It's not easy, but it's the path to true life and true love. Let us ask for the grace to love as God loves, without limits or conditions, that we might truly be the children of our heavenly Father.