Sunday, February 23, 2020

God is exceedingly Merciful and Loving. He expects us to follow His example (Readings for Feb. 23, 2020 Lectionary 79)

Key:
What these readings tell us about God
What these readings tell us to do
What these readings tell us not to do
Hyperlinks to additional resources

Reading 1: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18  
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.
You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heartThough you may have to reprove your fellow citizendo not incur sin because of himTake no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13  
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquitiesheals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destructioncrowns you with 
kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORDslow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with usnor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Brothers and sisters:
Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.
Let no one deceive himselfIf anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses,and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Alleluia: 1 John 2:5
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever 
keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48  
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, 
offer no resistance to one who is evilWhen someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as wellIf anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as wellShould anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two milesGive to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“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 youthat 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 only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So 
be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

What these readings tell us about God
I, the LORD, your God, am holy
The Lord is kind and merciful
The Lord is kind and merciful
He pardons all your iniquities
heals all your ills
He redeems your life from destruction
crowns you with kindness and compassion
The Lord is kind and merciful
Merciful and gracious is the LORD
slow to anger
abounding in kindness
Not according to our sins does he deal with us
nor does he requite us according to our crimes
The Lord is kind and merciful
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him
The Lord is kind and merciful
you are the temple of God
the Spirit of God dwells in you
the temple of God, which you are, is holy
the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses,and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain
you to Christ, and Christ to God
Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him
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
your heavenly Father is perfect

What these readings tell us to do
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy
you may have to reprove your fellow citizen
You shall love your neighbor as yourself
Bless the LORD
all my being, bless his holy name
Bless the LORD
forget not all his benefits
kindness
compassion
If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise
keeps the word of Christ
offer no resistance to one who is evil
When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well
Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles
Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow
you shall love your neighbor 
love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect

What these readings tell us not to do
You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart
do not incur sin because of him
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people
Let no one deceive himself
let no one boast 

Additional scriptures addressing the same principles are collected at:
And 

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