March 6, 2013

USCCB »  Bible »  Daily Readings

 « March 5  |  March 7 »

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent 
Lectionary: 239

Reading 1DT 4:1, 5-9

Moses spoke to the people and said:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 

Moses addressed the people and said, "People of Israel, listen to the laws which I am giving you.  If you do, you will not die and you will inherit the land which God promised to your fathers.

Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees
as the LORD, my God, has commanded me,
that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.

So, I am teaching you the commands God wants you to observe in the land you will live upon.

Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’

If you obey these commands, you will be a light to the nations.  They will see your actions and say, "what a wise people and a great nation are the people of Israel."

For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?

Because no other nation has a God like ours.  No other nation has laws like ours.  

“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

But be careful and remember to pass to your children all which you have seen God do for you.  And remember to teach your children and your children's children, of the goodness of God.

Responsorial PsalmPS 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20

R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, turn to God and bless His Holy Name.  God has always been your protecter and given to your children all that is good.

He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

He speaks and the world obeys.  He sends snow upon the earth like wool on a sheep.  Frost He spreads upon the earth like ashes.  Praise God people of Jerusalem.

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

He has spoken to your fathers Jacob and Israel.  He has not spoken thus to any other people.  Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. 

GospelMT 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Don't think I have come to abolish the Old Testament.  I have not come to abolish it but to fulfill it.

Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.

I assure you, the Law of the Commandments which God established in the Old Testament will not pass away.

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Therefore, who ever breaks the Commandments of God will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.  But whoever obeys them and teaches them will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.