Saturday 24 February 2018
Saturday of the 1st week of Lent
First reading
Deuteronomy 26:16-19
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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Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118:1-2,4-5,7-8
Happy are they who follow the law of the Lord! (R.)
They are happy whose life is blameless,
who follow God’s law!
They are happy who do his will,
seeking him with all their hearts. (R.)
You have laid down your precepts
to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm
to obey your statutes. (R.)
I will thank you with an upright heart
as I learn your decrees.
I will obey your statutes;
do not forsake me. (R.)
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Gospel Acclamation
2Cor6:2
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
This is the favourable time,
this is the day of salvation.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
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Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48
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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