1st READING
Deuteronomy 26:16-19
The Commandments of God are there to guide us in our actions, the way that we live our lives. God gave them through Moses to set a minimum level of morality to help us discern the truths that are fundamental to truly human living. This discernment is an ongoing reality; as times and technologies change, the Church examines the new realities and makes a judgment on them according to the inherent meaning of the actions. We cannot afford to neglect this discernment process or we might end up embracing something, a technology or otherwise, that will ultimately undermine the dignity of the human person.
16 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. 17 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.18 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, 19 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.
P S A L M
Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
R: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
1 Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. (R) 4 You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. 5 Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes! (R) 7 I will give you thanks with an upright heart, when I have learned your just ordinances. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me. (R)
G O S P E L
Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus is not interested in excuses when it comes to loving our fellow men and women. He has made it really easy for us! We do not have to discern who we should love and who we can neglect. The answer is simple ? namely, we are called to love all men and women regardless of who they are and what they have done. We do not have to like them or approve of their deed, but we do have to love them all. I think that we are all going to need God?s help in order to fulfill this command!
43 ?You have heard that it was said, ?You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.? 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. 46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.?
my reflections
think: We are called to love all men and women regardless of who they are and what they have done.
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God?s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ? S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Judges 10-13