Saturday of the First Week of Lent

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/26:16 DT 26:16-19 Moses spoke to the people, sayingand This day the LORD, your God,commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.Be careful, then,to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.Today you are making this agreement with the LORDandhe is to be your God and you are to walk in his waysand observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,and to hearken to his voice.And today the LORD is making this agreement with youandyou are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised youand provided you keep all his commandments,he will then raise you high in praise and renown and gloryabove all other nations he has made,and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,as he promised.” Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/119:1 PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 R. (1b)Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Blessed are they whose way is blameless,who walk in the law of the LORD.Blessed are they who observe his decrees,who seek him with all their heart. R.Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! You have commanded that your preceptsbe diligently kept.Oh, that I might be firm in the waysof keeping your statutes! R.Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! I will give you thanks with an upright heart,when I have learned your just ordinances.I will keep your statutesdo not utterly forsake me. R.Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Verse Before The Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/6and2 2 COR 6and2B Behold, now is a very acceptable timebehold, now is the day of salvation. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5:43 MT 5:43-48 Jesus said to his disciplesand You have heard that it was said,You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.But I say to you, love your enemies,and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be children of your heavenly Father,for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?Do not the tax collectors do the same?And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,what is unusual about that?Do not the pagans do the same?So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”