Daily Readings - Sat Mar 15 2025
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 reminded of the profound call to live as children of God, reflecting His love and perfection in our lives. The first reading from Deuteronomy emphasizes the Israelites' commitment to follow God's commandments, highlighting their unique relationship with Him as His chosen people. This passage underscores the importance of living according to God's laws, not merely out of obligation but as a natural response to His grace and love.
The Gospel from Matthew challenges us to expand our understanding of love beyond conventional boundaries. Jesus teaches us to love not just our neighbors but also our enemies, praying for those who persecute us. This teaching is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus deepens the interpretation of the law, calling us to a higher standard of love that mirrors God's universal care for all people, regardless of their actions.
These readings are connected by the theme of living out our identity as God's children. While Deuteronomy focuses on the Israelites' covenant obligations, Matthew's Gospel extends this to a universal call to love. Together, they remind us that our actions should reflect God's perfection, treating everyone with love and respect. In our daily lives, this means embracing those who may be difficult, just as God embraces us all. The moral lesson is clear: through love, we become instruments of God's transformative grace, living as true reflections of His perfect love.