Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 6, 2024
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 God’s law and its role in guiding our lives. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses exhorts the Israelites to observe the precepts and judgments of the Lord, emphasizing that these teachings are not just rules but a way of life. He reminds them that these laws are a gift from God, setting them apart as a wise and understanding people. Moses urges them to guard these teachings carefully, teaching them to their children and grandchildren, so that they may live in the land the Lord will give them. This passage highlights the covenantal relationship between God and his people, with the law serving as the foundation of their identity and relationship with God.
In the Gospel, Jesus affirms the importance of the law, stating unequivocally that he has not come to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them. He emphasizes that not even the smallest part of the law will pass away until all is fulfilled. Jesus teaches that those who obey and teach the commandments will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. This passage underscores the continuity between the Old and New Covenants, showing that Jesus’ mission is not to discard the law but to bring it to its fullness. The law, as given to the Israelites, finds its ultimate meaning in the person of Christ, who embodies the perfect fulfillment of God’s will.
These readings invite us to reflect on the role of God’s law in our lives. The law is not a burden but a gift, a guide for living in a way that reflects God’s wisdom and love. Just as the Israelites were called to observe the law and pass it on to future generations, we too are called to live according to God’s teachings. In our daily lives, this means striving to follow the commandments, not out of obligation, but out of love for God and a desire to live as his children. It also means being faithful in teaching the faith to others, whether through our words or by the example of our lives. Let us remember that the law is not just a set of rules but a path to holiness, and let us seek to live with integrity and fidelity, trusting that God’s ways are always for our good.