Do you dwell upon the fact that you are consecrated? Perhaps for many this is too big a word or too deep to think about for now? Nay sisters and brothers the more often we dwell upon this fact the more we will be able to resist sin. For we will make extra efforts to guard our souls from all evil so as to remain Holy unto Him.
Simply to be consecrated, is to be ‘set apart’ for and to be with God our Father. We are made Holy and dedicated to His divine purpose. We declare that His Will be done in us, so that in all things we say and do we glorify and praise Him. For we worship and love Him with our hearts, minds, strength and soul!
Because He first loved us, we too can love. Just as we were His enemies through sin, we have become His friends through the mercy and love of Christ Jesus our Lord. And so we can boldly declare both in word and deed that we love our enemies just as we ought to love our neighbour. Amen! Thank You Jesus!
Saint Casimir Pray for us…
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First reading
Deuteronomy 26:16-19 ·
You will be a people consecrated to the Lord
Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord your God today commands you to observe these laws and customs; you must keep and observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
‘You have today made this declaration about the Lord: that he will be your God, but only if you follow his ways, keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and listen to his voice. And the Lord has today made this declaration about you: that you will be his very own people as he promised you, but only if you keep all his commandments; then for praise and renown and honour he will set you high above all the nations he has made, and you will be a people consecrated to the Lord, as he promised.’
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Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48
Pray for those who persecute you
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’
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