Todays First Reading (DT 26:16-19) Moses spoke to the people, saying: “This day the LORD, your God, commands you to observe these statutes and decrees. Be careful, then, to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. Today you are making this agreement with the LORD: he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees, and to hearken to his voice. And today the LORD is making this agreement with you: you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you; and provided you keep all his commandments, he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory above all other nations he has made, and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God, as he promised.” Gospel Reading (MT 5:43-48) Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Prayer: Perfect God, Your perfection is in Your endless compassion and life-giving love. Continue to make us like You. You have chosen each and all of us as Your special possession. We are peculiarly Yours. It is comforting and challenging. You choose us for great and transforming things. You make us sacred so that we can share Your message of the sacred dignity of each and all of Your children, whether we like them or not. Lift the rationalizations we create in our imperfect hearts to exclude and diminish people from the rain of Your justice and the sunshine of Your love. You alone are the judge. Your compassion, mercy and tender love are Your justice and perfection - and our measure!!! - Father Bob, LittleFlower.org
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 13:00:00 +0000
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