Today’s readings urge us to go beyond our obligations to the challenge of loving.
Collect: Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send Your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 . . . God’s calls the people to be holy and to live in love.
Psalm 119:33-40 . . . A request for guidance in keeping the commandments.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 . . .Paul reminds the Corinthians that all things belong to those who are in Christ
Matthew 5: 38-48 . . . Jesus declares that for his disciples unselfish love shows that we are God’s children. Followers are called to a way of life that teaches far beyond worldly standards of goodness — towards the limitless excellence of their heavenly Father.