1ST READING
We
know what God expects of us as His disciples. It is clearly spelled out
in many places in the Scriptures. Today, we read one of the Old
Testament understandings of the covenant God made with His chosen
people. It is not easy to be a disciple — it requires our full
commitment. If that is too much for us, we should look at the
alternatives. However, let me tell you something I have learned over the
years: the alternatives are much worse.
Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
1 Moses spoke to the people and said: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 5 Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the Lord, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you
are entering to occupy. 6 Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? 8 Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which
I am setting before you today? 9 However, take care and be earnestly on your
guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let
them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your
children and to your children’s children.”
P S A L M
Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
R: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
12 Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. 13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. (R) 15 He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! 16 He spreads snow like wool; frost he strews like ashes. (R)
19 He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
is not an anarchist. He knows there is a place for the law in the life
of faith. The important thing is to get our understanding of the law
correct. Paul tries
to do this in Galatians 3 but struggles to deal with the negative
aspects of the image he uses. It is better to allow the law to be
understood as a guide for righteous living and not attach it to an
historical image like that of Isaac and Ishmael. The law can never fully
express our relationship with God. We need Jesus and the Holy Spirit to
do that.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.
Matthew 5:17-19
17 Jesus
said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the
law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will
be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
think: Jesus is not an anarchist. He knows there is a place for the law in the life of faith.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ___________________________
____________________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_________
____________________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 John 1-5
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