1st READING
The commitment to follow God as a disciple is dependent on our behavior. That is, we must both practice what we preach and lead righteous and holy lives. This is a lot to commit ourselves to as it means living a disciplined life until the day we die. We live in a world that tends not to like discipline. In fact, we tend to do our best to avoid it, if at all possible.
Deuteronomy 26:16-19
16 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. 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)
GOSPEL
Perfection seems difficult to understand in the sense that it means living without sin. But this is exactly what it means. Jesus knows the power of the grace that is available to us through His life, death and resurrection. Is it hard to believe that we can live perfect lives with the help of the Holy Spirit? If that is so, then what is the use of the Holy Spirit?
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Matthew 5:43-48
43 Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”
think: Is it hard to believe that we can live perfect lives with the help of the Holy Spirit?
READING 2nd READING
TODAY’S
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Peter 1-5 BLES
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