Daily Readings - Sun Feb 19 2023
Leviticus
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,2Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.17Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
1 Corinthians
16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Matthew
38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.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 themes of holiness, love, and unity. The first reading from Leviticus reminds us that holiness is not just about rituals but about how we treat others. It calls us to avoid hatred and revenge, instead embracing love for our neighbors. This passage, part of the Holiness Code, emphasizes moral behavior and community respect, urging us to live as God’s holy people.
The second reading from Corinthians shifts our focus to our identity as temples of God. It warns against worldly wisdom and pride, encouraging humility and unity. Paul reminds us that all things belong to us, but we belong to Christ, highlighting the importance of living in a way that reflects this truth. This reading addresses the early church’s struggles with division and worldly influences, calling for a deeper spiritual understanding.
The Gospel from Matthew takes us to the heart of Jesus’ teachings on radical love. He replaces the old law of retaliation with a call to non-resistance and love for enemies. Jesus’ teachings challenge us to move beyond mere compliance with the law to a deeper, transformative love. This passage from the Sermon on the Mount emphasizes that our actions should reflect God’s perfection, treating others with the same love and kindness He shows us.
These readings connect through the theme of living a holy and loving life. Leviticus sets the foundation of moral behavior, Corinthians addresses the community’s spiritual unity, and Matthew expands this to radical love. Together, they call us to a life that goes beyond rules to one of profound love and unity.
In daily life, this means responding to conflicts with love, not just avoiding hate but actively seeking good for others. We are called to give freely, forgive generously, and pray for those who wrong us. The moral lesson is clear: imitate God’s perfection in how we treat others, even when it’s difficult. Let us strive to live out this radical love, reflecting God’s holiness in our actions and attitudes.