Daily Readings - Sat Mar 12 2022
Deuteronomy
16The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.17You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws, and that you will obey him.18And the LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands.19He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.
Matthew
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and with others. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, we hear about the covenant between God and his people. The Israelites are reminded that they have been chosen by God to be a holy people, called to walk in His ways and keep His commandments. This is not just about following rules, but about a deep, personal relationship with the living God who has chosen them for His own praise and name. This passage reminds us of our own calling as followers of God, to live a life set apart for Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea of being set apart and takes it a radical step further. He challenges us to love not just our neighbors, but even our enemies. He says, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." This doesn't mean we have to be sinless, but rather that we are to reflect God's character of boundless love and mercy. The Father sends the sun and the rain on both the good and the bad. So too, we are called to love without limits, even those who oppose or harm us. This is not a suggestion but a command, one that cuts against the grain of our natural inclinations.
So, how do we live this out? It starts with prayer. We are to pray for those who persecute us, that they might come to know the love of God. It means choosing to do good even when it's hard, even when we don't feel like it. It means greeting others with kindness, not just our friends but everyone. This is the way of holiness, the way of being perfect as the Father is perfect. It's not easy, but it's the path to true life and true love. Let us ask for the grace to love as God loves, without limits or conditions, that we might truly be the children of our heavenly Father.
</think>
The readings today invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and with others. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, we hear about the covenant between God and his people. The Israelites are reminded that they have been chosen by God to be a holy people, called to walk in His ways and keep His commandments. This is not just about following rules, but about a deep, personal relationship with the living God who has chosen them for His own praise and name. This passage reminds us of our own calling as followers of God, to live a life set apart for Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea of being set apart and takes it a radical step further. He challenges us to love not just our neighbors, but even our enemies. He says, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." This doesn't mean we have to be sinless, but rather that we are to reflect God's character of boundless love and mercy. The Father sends the sun and the rain on both the good and the bad. So too, we are called to love without limits, even those who oppose or harm us. This is not a suggestion but a command, one that cuts against the grain of our natural inclinations.
So, how do we live this out? It starts with prayer. We are to pray for those who persecute us, that they might come to know the love of God. It means choosing to do good even when it's hard, even when we don't feel like it. It means greeting others with kindness, not just our friends but everyone. This is the way of holiness, the way of being perfect as the Father is perfect. It's not easy, but it's the path to true life and true love. Let us ask for the grace to love as God loves, without limits or conditions, that we might truly be the children of our heavenly Father.