Daily Readings - Sun Feb 23 2020
Leviticus
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.
1 Corinthians
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.
Matthew
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.