Table of the Word
First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15 (R. cf. John 6:63c)
Verse before the Gospel: 2 Corinthians 6:2
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
Theme: Do not oppress one another.
Reflection
"I am the LORD; you shall not oppress your neighbour or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:13-14)
From the very beginning, God's love for humanity has been boundless and immeasurable. His deepest desire has always been to draw us into closer communion with Himself - a desire that remains unchanged to this day (cf. Genesis 1:26).
In today's First Reading, He instructs Moses with words meant for all of us: a solemn call to holiness that echoes the great Decalogue found in Exodus 20. The directives set before us in Leviticus 19:11ff. are not merely religious prescriptions rather they are a blueprint for how we are to relate to one another as brothers and sisters made in the image of God.
The logic of love is plain: if we cannot love our neighbour whom we see with our own eyes, we cannot sincerely claim to love God whom we have never seen. It is precisely in our love for one another that our love for God finds its truest and most visible expression (cf. 1 John 4:20). Love, therefore, is not an abstract feeling reserved for private devotion; it is a concrete, daily act of justice, mercy, and respect toward every person we encounter.
Wherever we find ourselves in a position to help, let that help flow freely without discrimination, without partiality, without delay. Let every person receive what is rightly due to them. Let no one be exploited, overlooked, or pushed to the margins because of who they are.
Beloved in Christ, the Church has graciously set aside this sacred season to invite us into deeper reflection on the Word of God and to put that Word into action through faithful Lenten observance. Let our works speak louder than our words. Let every resolution be matched with action for a righteousness that lives only on the lips is no better than that of the scribes and Pharisees. Love one another beyond every wall, every barrier, every boundary. Peace be with you!
Thought for Today
"It is not from your own goods that you give to the beggar; it is a portion of his own that you are restoring to him. The earth belongs to all. So you are paying back a debt and think you are making a gift to which you are not obliged."
-St. Ambrose of Milan
Prayer
Convert us, O God our Saviour, and instruct our minds by heavenly teaching, that we may benefit from the works of Lent. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lenten Commitment
This week, I commit to examining my relationships, at home, at work, and in my community, and identifying one person I may have overlooked, shortchanged, or treated unjustly. I will take a concrete step to make it right: whether through a kind word, a fair act, a prompt payment, or a genuine gesture of charity. I will let my love for God be measured not by what I profess, but by how I treat the person standing right in front of me.
© ARCHIVE 23022016
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