＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Deuteronomy 26:16-19

 On this day, Yahweh, your God,

Commands you to fulfill these norms and these commandments. Obey them now and put them into practice with all your heart and with all your soul. Today Yahweh has declared to you that he will be your God, and so you shall follow his ways, observing his norms, his com­mandments and his laws, and listening to his voice.

 Today Yahweh has declared that you will be his very own people even as he had promised you, and you must obey all his commandments. He, for his part, will give you honor, renown and glory, and set you high above all the nations he has made, and you will become a nation consecrated to Yahweh, your God, as he has declared.

 

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

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 5:43-48

 You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy. But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For he makes his sun rise on both the wick­ed and the good, and he gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

 If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much? And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? Do not even the pagans do as much? For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Love is not just a response to love. It loves even if it is refected. This is heavenly love. It is the evangelization of human love that seeks a return for the love given, or loving because it is mutually beneficial and good.

That is why the commandment to love is hard. Many of us will take a lifetime before we can even approach the threshold of heavenly love. May we work to acquire this love that knows no measure so we can shave in God’s very own essence.