Daily Mass Readings – Saturday, 11 March 2028

16 This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these commandments and judgments: and to keep and fulfill them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.

17 Thou hast chosen the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways and keep his ceremonies, and precepts, and judgments, and obey his command.

18 And the Lord hath chosen thee this day, to be his peculiar people, as he hath spoken to thee, and to keep all his commandments:

19 And to make thee higher than all nations which he hath created, to his own praise, and name, and glory: that thou mayst be a holy people of the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.

R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

2 Blessed are they who search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

4 Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.

5 O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.

8 I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

2b Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

43 You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy.

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:

45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.

46 For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this?

47 And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?

48 Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

The covenant language is deeply personal: Israel chooses the Lord as God, and the Lord chooses Israel as his own people. This belonging is expressed through faithful obedience, with all the heart and soul. The psalm gives that obedience its proper spirit—not anxious compliance, but a wholehearted search for God and a desire to be directed in his ways. His commandments form a path toward holiness and praise.

Jesus reveals how far this covenant life reaches. Love cannot stop with those who love us. The Father’s sun and rain fall upon the good and the unjust, and his children are to reflect that generous mercy by loving enemies, doing good, and praying for those who persecute them. This is the perfection Jesus places before us: to resemble the Father in the way we treat others. The Alleluia points to the present moment as a day of salvation. We need not wait for a more convenient time to obey God’s command. Today we can choose one act of goodness, one prayer for someone difficult, one refusal to return hurt with hurt. In such small but demanding choices, our identity as God’s people becomes visible.

Heavenly Father, you have called us to belong to you and to walk in your ways with an undivided heart. Teach us to love as you love, giving kindness without measuring what others deserve. When we are wounded or opposed, restrain our anger and open our lips to pray rather than condemn. Through your grace, help us do good even when no gratitude follows, and let our lives reflect the mercy you show to the just and unjust alike. May this present day become a true day of salvation, marked by faithful obedience and growing holiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.