February 20, 2016

Reading

The Book of Deutronomy   26: 16-19

26:16 Today the Lord your God has instructed you to carry out these commandments and judgments, and to keep and fulfill them, with all your heart and with all your soul.
26:17 Today, you have chosen the Lord to be your God, so that you may walk in his ways, and keep his ceremonies and commandments and judgments, and obey his command.
26:18 Today, the Lord has chosen you, so that you may be his particular people, just as he has spoken to you, and so that you may keep all his precepts,
26:19 and so that he may cause you to be more exalted than all the nations which he has created, for the sake of his own praise and name and glory, in order that you may be a holy people for the Lord your God, just as he has spoken.”

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Matthew   5: 43-48

5:43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall have hatred for your enemy.’
5:44 But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you.
5:45 In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust.
5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors behave this way?
5:47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more have you done? Do not even the pagans behave this way?
5:48 Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.”