Bible Readings - Mar. 15, 2025

Reading 1

Deuteronomy 26:16-19

This day the LORD, your God, is commanding you

to observe these statutes and ordinances.

Be careful, then, to observe them with

your whole heart and with your whole being.

Today you have accepted the LORD’s agreement:

he will be your God, and you will walk in his ways,

observe his statutes, commandments, and ordinances,

and obey his voice.

And today the LORD has accepted your agreement:

you will be a people specially his own, as he promised you,

you will keep all his commandments, and he will set you

high in praise and renown and glory above all nations

he has made, and you will be a people holy to the LORD,

your God, as he promised.

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

Blessed are they whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the LORD.

Blessed are they who observe his decrees,

who seek him with all their heart.

You have commanded that your precepts

be diligently kept.

Oh, that I might be firm in the ways

of keeping your statutes!

I will give you thanks with an upright heart,

when I have learned your just ordinances.

I will keep your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me.

2 Corinthians 6:2b

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;

behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel

Matthew 5:43-48

"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."