Saturday of the First week of Lent

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

First Reading
Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Moses spoke to the people, saying:“This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honour high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.”

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
R. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his decrees! With all their hearts they seek him.
R. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!

You have laid down your precepts to be carefully kept. May my ways be firm in keeping your statutes.
R. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!

I will thank you with an upright heart, as I learn your just judgments. I will keep your statutes; do not ever forsake me.
R. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!

Verse before the Gospel

V. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
R. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
V. Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
R. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48
At that time:Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The Gospel of the Lord