First Reading | Deuteronomy 26:16-19
If we exalt ourselves, we will be humiliated since we cannot prevail against the powers of sin with our own strength. However, all things are possible with God’s strength. All glory is His and never ours.
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.”
Responsorial Psalm | 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 | Matthew 5:43-48
Martyrs have reached near perfection in faith because of their willingness to die for what they believed in. They knew that not even death could take away their relationship with God. Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Anne Line who was hanged for giving refuge to Catholic priests. May we be inspired by the power of faith to overcome adverse situations.
Gospel Acclamation
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
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? 47And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
