Matthew 5:43-48

Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8

Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You have heard that it was said,

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies,

and pray for those who persecute you,

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.

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?

Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,

what is unusual about that?

Do not the pagans do the same?

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you offer your covenant to humanity so that we can share in your divine life. You are truly blessed and offer me a share in this beatitude. I thank you for this offer and will do my best to remain in your love as I journey toward you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Old Covenant Law of Moses: Today’s First Reading introduces us to one of the many covenants that God made with humanity and his people – the Covenant of Deuteronomy. The idolatry, apostasy, and sin of the people of Israel at Baal-Peor (Numbers 25:1-6) led to Moses giving Israel the “Second Law” or Law of Deuteronomy. Compared to the original covenant at Mt. Sinai, which was the “First Law,” the covenant of Deuteronomy was a lesser covenant and law and was given by Moses because of Israel's hardness of heart. The Deuteronomy covenant, made right before the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered into the Promised Land of Canaan, had the purpose of restoring and rehabilitating the twelve tribes after their apostasy at Baal-Peor. This Second Law, given by Moses, wanted Israel to recognize its weakness and inability to achieve holiness without God’s help. From the beginning, God wanted his people to be holy and sacred. This was God’s intention when he created Adam and Eve – that all human beings, created in his image and likeness, share in his divine life. This promise was symbolized by the Sabbath rest. The path that leads to this divine rest, holiness, and life is marked out by the Lord’s statutes, commandments, and decrees. The path is characterized especially by docile obedience to the voice of God. 

2. The New Covenant Law of Christ: The true model for the one who obeys God’s voice is Jesus Christ. He obeyed his Father always and, through his filial obedience, freed us from the curses of the Old Covenant and established the New Covenant in his blood. Like every covenant, the New Covenant has a law associated with it. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount articulates the heart of the New Law of the New Covenant. Like the passage from Deuteronomy, which calls the people of Israel to holiness, the passage from Matthew today concludes with a call for the restored tribes of Israel and for us to be holy, to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is holy and perfect.

3. Living under the New Law: It is good to remember that we are not able to reach this holiness and perfection on our own. We need God’s grace and mercy. God’s grace is what enables us to go beyond our human limitations and live and act according to Christian charity. This means loving our enemies, praying for those who persecute us, and welcoming those around us in the Lord. Today’s message is similar to the one we heard yesterday when we were invited to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters and with our opponents. We should not be discouraged when we hear Christ command us to forgive and love and pray for our enemies. Rather, we should be confident that he will empower us with his grace to live the New Law!

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your New Law is one of charity and grace. You empower us with your Holy Spirit to love as children of your Father. Because of this, the yoke you place on my shoulders is easy and the burden you ask me to carry is light.

Resolution: Am I living the New Law of Jesus? What part of this New Law do I struggle with? What part do I practice? What can I, with God’s grace, do better?