1st Week of Lent
04th March 2023 (Thursday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Moses spoke to the people, saying: "This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honour high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised."
Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 (R. 1b)
R/. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!
Gospel : Matthew 5:43-48
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Fidelity counts the most!
Indicative: Often we are caught up with human considerations, calculations, evaluations, and courses of action. But we need to look up to God’s ways{alertSuccess}
1. There is a lot of unnoticed superficiality in the human mentality. In terms of philosophy, it is the failure to get into and see deeply the deeper realities of life. In reference to the first reading, many look at the commandments, decrees, and statutes as matters only of religion and ethics. They consider them as clusters of do’s and do not’s. The laws are felt as burdens. Hence there is always a hidden sense of resentment and resistance
2. Subsequently, there is always a tendency to follow only what the letter of the law says, and search for any possible loopholes to break them and do away with them. That is why today God invites us for a different perspective and approach.
3. The commandments are not only written directives but essentially ways of relating with God and others. Thereby they become expressions of relationship. They are not merely following some rules but the mode of being and ways of doing and living
4. The main point is not whether we are keeping the law or breaking it. It is rather whether we are living our identity of belonging to God and living as people in relationship with God. This is a holistic perspective
5. In such an integral perspective of living, there is no discrimination, hatred, inequality, or harm to others. There is only love and equity. There is magnanimity to be good and do good even to the enemies
Imperative: God calls us to seek perfection after His model. His perfection is not in terms of worldly competence or excellence but in terms of love and benevolence {alertSuccess}