Dear
Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Peace and Love of Christ be with you!!!
The
Covenant: A People Set Apart (Deuteronomy 26:16-19)
Today’s readings remind us that our call to holiness is deeply rooted in God’s Covenant, a Covenant of love, obedience, and divine favor. At the heart of these biblical readings are two essential aspects of our Christian life: we are called to
Covenant Faithfulness. This means that obedience to God’s commandments leads to
divine blessings and the realization of our identity as a people set apart for
His glory. The second aspect is that we
are challenged to live a Radical love. Jesus
pushes us beyond mere rule-keeping, calling us to love even our enemies,
mirroring the perfect love of God.
Understanding that we
are a covenant people means a lot in our spiritual life. Covenant, as we know,
is a solemn agreement between God and His people. Moses reminds Israel of their
privileged status: “The Lord has declared this day that you are His people, His
treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands.”
This passage underscores
three fundamental truths:
- Obedience is the response to God's love. The commandments are not
meant to burden us but to guide us into a life of blessing and
fulfillment.
- Being set apart is a privilege and a responsibility. To belong to
God means to live differently, to shine as a beacon of righteousness in a
world of darkness.
- Faithfulness leads to exaltation. God promises that those who walk
in His ways will be "raised high in praise, fame, and honor"
among all nations.
This is a profound
message for us during Lent. Many times, we struggle with obedience, seeing
God's laws as restrictions rather than pathways to true freedom. But obedience
to God's word is not about legalism; it is about relationship. When we truly
embrace our identity as God’s chosen people, obedience flows naturally from a
heart that loves Him.
Are we walking in His
statutes, commandments, and decrees? Are we listening to His voice and allowing
His word to shape our lives? Lent is the perfect time to renew our commitment
to this covenant and live with the deep awareness that we belong to God.
Lent invites us to
rediscover this identity. We are not meant to live like everyone else; we are
set apart, called to reflect God's holiness in a world that has forgotten Him.
The question is: Do we live with the awareness of being God’s chosen people?
Does our daily life reflect the dignity of those whom God has set apart for
Himself?
The Highest Commandment: Love Beyond Boundaries (Matthew 5:43-48)
While Deuteronomy speaks
of obedience, the Gospel takes us even deeper into the heart of God's law, love.
Jesus challenges us:
"You have heard
that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you,
love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be
children of your Father in heaven."
This teaching is
radically countercultural. Human instinct tells us to love those who love us
and to retaliate against those who hurt us. But Jesus sets a higher
standard, inviting us dearly to reflect the perfection of God Himself.
Why is this so crucial?
- Loving our enemies reveals our divine nature. Jesus says that when
we love like this, we become true children of God—mirroring His mercy and
goodness.
- God's love is indiscriminate. He sends rain on the just and the
unjust, showing that His love does not depend on our merit. We, too, are
called to love freely, expecting nothing in return.
- Perfection in God’s eyes is found in love. Jesus ends by saying, "Be
perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." This
perfection is not about moral flawlessness but about a heart that loves
like God loves.
Lent:
A Time to Live as God’s People
When
we put these two readings together, we perceive the heart of our religious
beliefs. Deuteronomy calls us to obey God’s commandments, living as His chosen
people. Matthew calls us to the highest commandment, love, even for our
enemies.
Holiness and love go
hand in hand. True obedience to God is not about mere rule-keeping; it is about
becoming a reflection of God's heart in the world. This is what sets us apart!
A
Commitment to True Holiness
As we walk through this
Lenten season, let us renew our awareness that we belong to God. We are not
ordinary people, we are His particular people, called to reflect His
love and holiness. Let us strive to walk in obedience, not out of fear, but out
of love. Let us love, not just those who love us back, but even our enemies.
This is the essence of
true transformation. This is the call of Lent. This is what it means to be the
people of God.
May the Lord give us the
grace to live as His chosen ones, walking in obedience and radiating His
perfect love. Amen.🙏🙏🙏
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