Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 10, 2021
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4.1, 5-9
1Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.5See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it.6Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."7What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?8And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?9Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Psalm 147
1Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.5Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.6The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.8He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.9He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.10His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;11the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.12Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,13for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.14He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.15He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.16He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.17He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?18He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.19He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.20He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 5.17-19
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Sermon
In today's readings, we reflect on the enduring importance of God's laws and their fulfillment through Jesus Christ. The first reading from Deuteronomy emphasizes Moses' instruction to the Israelites to adhere to God's precepts, not just for their survival but as a testament to their wisdom and closeness to God. This passage underscores the responsibility to teach these laws to future generations, ensuring they remain central to their identity and faith.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who affirms that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. This fulfillment is not about diminishing the law's importance but about embedding it deeper into our hearts and actions. Jesus highlights the law's permanence, stressing that even the smallest part remains significant. This teaching challenges us to not only follow the law but to embody it in a way that inspires others, making us great in the kingdom of heaven.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to live with integrity, guided by moral principles that reflect God's love. Just as the Israelites were to teach their children, we too should pass on these values, whether through words or actions. Jesus' fulfillment of the law reminds us that our faith is not just about rules but about a way of life that honors God. Let us strive to live faithfully, knowing that our commitment to God's teachings profoundly impacts our lives and the lives of those around us.