Saturday of the First Week

Reflection

As we conclude the first full week of Lent, these readings offer hope and considerable challenge. In Deuteronomy, we encounter the conclusion of Moses’ exhortation to the people of Israel in preparation to enter the Promised Land. This covenant renewal and commitment to follow God’s commands reminded the people of their special relationship with God. We are encouraged to follow the statutes and decrees of the Lord with all our heart and all our soul, so that we can become “a people peculiarly his own.” As Psalm 119 reminds us, “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.”

Matthew’s gospel continues Jesus’ teaching on humility and love in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus states that we should expand those whom we love to include our enemies and persecutors, striving to “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

These readings are desperately needed in our world today. We have been moving away from peace in war-ravaged regions, including the Middle East and Ukraine. Nevertheless, we are called to pray for lasting peace, for victims of war, and for those who bring violence into these areas. We are called to embrace Christ’s teaching and pray for those perceived as enemies.

Pope Francis’ words from a homily on Matthew’s passage are illuminating:

“Even we, all of us, have enemies – all of us. Some are weak enemies, some strong. So often we too become the enemies of others; we do not love them. Jesus tells us that we must love our enemies. This is no easy matter, and in general, we think that Jesus is asking too much of us…
This is the mystery of salvation: with forgiveness, with love for our enemy, we become poorer. But this poverty is a seed-bearing fruit for others, as Jesus’ poverty became grace for us all, salvation.”

Prayer

Dear Lord, through your life and death, you offer a transformational example of how to love our enemies. Each day, may we respond to your call, follow your example, and sow the seeds of peace in our communities and world. Amen.

George Ashline
Department of Mathematics

Scripture

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website