Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 (JB)

A reading from the book of Leviticus

You must love your neighbour, as yourself.

The Lord spoke to Moses; he said: ‘Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them: “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

“You must not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. You must openly tell him, your neighbour, of his offence; this way you will not take a sin upon yourself. You must not exact vengeance, nor must you bear a grudge against the children of your people. You must love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Leviticus

The Lord spoke to Moses:

“Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel

and say to them:

‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

“‘You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin;

you shall reprove your neighbour,

or you will incur guilt yourself.

You shall not take vengeance

or bear a grudge against any of your people,

but you shall love your neighbour as yourself:

I am the Lord.'”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 102:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13 (JB)

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord,

all my being, bless his holy name.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

and never forget all his blessings. R.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,

who heals every one of your ills,

who redeems your life from the grave,

who crowns you with love and compassion. R.

The Lord is compassion and love,

slow to anger and rich in mercy.

He does not treat us according to our sins

nor repay us according to our faults. R.

As far as the east is from the west

so far does he remove our sins.

As a father has compassion on his sons,

the Lord has pity on those who fear him. R.

1 Corinthians 3:16-23 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

All things are yours, but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.

Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple.

Make no mistake about it; if any one of you thinks of himself as wise, in the ordinary sense of the word, then he must learn to be a fool before he really can be wise. Why? Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As scripture says: The Lord knows wise men’s thoughts: he knows how useless they are; or again: God is not convinced by the arguments of the wise. So there is nothing to boast about in anything human: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life and death, the present and the future, are all your servants; but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 3:16-23 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

Do you not know that you are God’s temple

and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

If anyone destroys God’s temple,

God will destroy that person.

For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Do not deceive yourselves.

If you think that you are wise in this age,

you should become fools so that you may become wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

For it is written,

“He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

and again,

‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,

that they are futile.”

So let no one boast about human leaders.

For all things are yours-

whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas,

or the world or life or death,

or the present or the future-

all belong to you,

and you belong to Christ,

and Christ belongs to God.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 John 2:5 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Whoever keeps the word of Christ,

grows perfect in the love of God.

Alleluia!

1 John 2:5 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Whoever keeps the word of Christ,

grows perfect in the love of God.

Alleluia!

Matthew 5:38-48 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Love your enemies.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.

‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:38-48 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

On the mountain, Jesus continued to teach his disciples.

“You have heard that it was said,

‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

But I say to you,

Do not resist an evildoer.

But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek,

turn the other also;

and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat,

give your cloak as well;

and if anyone forces you to go one mile,

go also the second mile.

Give to everyone who begs from you,

and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

“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 children of your Father in heaven;

for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,

and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

“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 and sisters,

what more are you doing than others?

Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.