Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 23, 2020
First Reading: Leviticus 19.1-2, 17-18
1The LORD said to Moses,2"Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.17"'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.18"'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Psalm 103
1Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.2Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-3who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,4who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,5who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.6The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.7He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:8The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.9He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;10he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;12as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;14for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.15As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;16the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.17But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-18with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.19The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.20Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.21Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.22Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3.16-23
16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.18Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise.19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness";20and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."21So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours,22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,23and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
Gospel: Matthew 5.38-48
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sermon
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the profound themes of holiness, unity, and unconditional love. The first reading from Leviticus reminds us of the call to holiness, rooted in God’s own holiness, and the importance of loving our neighbor as ourselves. This text is part of the Holiness Code, a section of Leviticus that emphasizes living a life set apart for God, not just in ritual purity but in ethical behavior toward others. The second reading from 1 Corinthians challenges us to recognize that we are the Temple of God, and thus, we must avoid the corruption of worldly wisdom. Paul is addressing a church divided by factions and intellectual pride, urging them to embrace humility and unity in Christ. Finally, the Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus’ radical teaching on non-retaliation and love for enemies, a cornerstone of his Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is not abolishing the law but fulfilling it by calling his followers to a higher standard of love and mercy.
These readings are deeply interconnected. Leviticus establishes the foundation of holiness and love for neighbor, which is then expanded by Paul to include the entire community as the living Temple of God. Jesus, in the Gospel, takes this further by extending love not just to neighbors but even to enemies. Together, they remind us that our relationship with God is inseparable from our relationships with others. To be holy is to love without boundaries, to forgive without condition, and to live in a way that reflects God’s own perfection.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to move beyond superficial kindness and to embrace a radical love that transforms how we interact with the world. It means resisting the urge to retaliate, whether in small slights or deeper injustices. It means seeing the image of God in everyone, even those who may oppose or hurt us. As we strive to live out this holiness, we are reminded that we are not alone. We are part of a community, the Body of Christ, and our actions reflect not only on ourselves but on the entire Body. Let us, therefore, seek to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, living with humility, forgiveness, and love that knows no bounds.