Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 23, 2022
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
The readings today remind us of the enduring importance of the law as a guide for living a life pleasing to God. In Deuteronomy, Moses emphasizes the importance of remembering and teaching the commandments to future generations. He presents the law not just as a set of rules, but as a source of wisdom and closeness to God. In Matthew, Jesus affirms the enduring nature of the law, making it clear that His mission is to fulfill, not abolish, the commandments. He emphasizes that even the smallest part of the law remains important, and how one applies the law matters deeply.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on the law as a foundation for a life of integrity and closeness to God. In Deuteronomy, the law is presented as a gift that sets Israel apart as a wise and understanding people. In Matthew, Jesus teaches that the law is a foundation for the kingdom of heaven, and how one interprets and applies it has consequences for their standing in God's kingdom. Together, these readings remind us that the law is not a burden, but a guide for living in a way that reflects God's wisdom and love.
In our daily lives, we are called to approach the law not as a set of rules to follow mechanically, but as a way of life that shapes our character and relationships. The law, as given in Deuteronomy and affirmed by Jesus, calls us to integrity, justice, and love. It challenges us to live in a way that reflects the wisdom and closeness to God that Moses spoke of, and to consider how our actions and teachings align with God's will. Ultimately, the law is a call to live with integrity and to let God's love and justice shape every aspect of our lives.