Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - A – February 16, 2014

The Law Giver

This Sunday's readings speak to the Matthean vision of Jesus as the new Moses, the Law Giver for the new covenant.

BLOG LINK  Should we admire the Outlaw?

MP3 PODCAST In this week’s audio podcast, we explore the crisis in modern morality: moral authority.

FIRST READING Ben Sirach presented his readers (and us) a choice. In a society with competing cultures, do we choose the popular or the pious, the relevant or the eternal?

PSALM Psalm 119, the longest psalm in the Bible, was a song of the individual. It was a hymn that sought God’s will over all else.

SECOND READING St. Paul wrote the Corinthians about the superiority of God’s wisdom, even over that of the aged.

GOSPEL In Matthew 5, Jesus commented on the Law in an original way. He interpreted the Law with an eye for the Kingdom.

CHILDREN’S READINGS In the story for the first reading, ordinary Elliot received the “Student of the Month” for his wisdom. St. Paul promoted a greater wisdom than anyone else has, the wisdom of God. In the story for the gospel, Jude got in an argument with his older brother over doing the right thing and following the rules. Obeying the rules helps us respect others, stay organized and love all of God’s creation.

CATECHISM LINK In this week’s Catechism Link, we review the Ten Commandments.

FAMILY ACTIVITY Just as Jesus was THE Law Giver, parents are the law givers and enforcers in the family. Parents need the prayers and support of their families, not only for the order and well-being of the family, but for their role as evangelizers to the family.