Exodus 20: 1-17 teaches us the 10 Commandments. They are the law for our life. We will be judged according to it. Jesus shows His zeal at the Temple throwing out the tax collectors. God is merciful and just.

Genesis 37 tells the story of Joseph called a master of dreams by his brothers and thrown into a cistern to be finally sold to the slavery to a caravan of salesmen. Dreams? Who has shown great jealousy for you? How has the Lord redeems your heart? The Gospel tells the story of the land owner of a vineyard. His son is killed by his servants. Sometimes things that are so unfair and horrific happen in life. God walks with us

Jeremiah 17, 5 - 10 speaks about trusting in the Lord. Psalm 1 says blessed are they who hope in the Lord. What is hope? The choice to trust in the Lord in the midst of difficulties.

Jeremiah and Jesus both endured gossip. Psalm 31 teaches us to pray-save me oh Lord in your kindness. Psalm 31 also has the words of Jesus on the cross “into your hands I commend my spirit.” Let us be humble and let us come in our spirit of God in the midst of difficulties like gossip.

Come now says the Lord, Go to your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow. (Isaiah 1) Psalm 50 Jesus tells us not to be like the Pharisees and scribes who seek to be exalted. He says the greatest amongst you must be your servant

The reading from the book of Deut tells us to pray to God asking for His mercy, one of his qualities. We recognize our sinfulness, rebellion, disobedience. We appeal to God to help us. The Psalm for today is 79 - we ask God to not deal with us according to our sins. Jesus tells us “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful” a measure with which you judge you will be judged.

The first reading from the book of Genesis shows us Abraham ready to do God’s will in bringing his son Isaac to be sacrificed. This is a terrifying story that shows us the ability of a heart to align with God, even when one does not understand what God is asking. Do we trust in God’s character to be true? Do we trust that he will not go against his own Commandments? Abraham does. Abraham shows a readiness that is inspiring. “Here I am.” In the gospel reading we see Jesus transfigured and Moses and Elijah next to him. Peter explains how good it is to be here in this precious moment. Jesus wants to show His divinity before the passion to give them hope and strength. God never asks for more than He knows we can handle. And He works with us. He shows these three apostles His divinity Since we are made in His image and likeness, we have a spark of that divinity in our souls. We are more than our bodies.

It is not easy to love our enemies. But Jesus asks us for the kind of perfection. In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 26 Moses says that we must follow the Commandments, decrees and statutes of the Lord. We must walk in His ways and observe all that He has commanded. This is the definition of holiness, to be people set apart by our behavior. Psalm 119 says “blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.”

In the readings for today we hear Jesus ask what does it mean for our righteousness to surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees? Righteousness means obedience, and alignment with the ways of God. Jesus says if you find yourself angry with your brother on the way to the temple, go first to reconcile. Psalm 130 says if you are lord mark inequities who can stand?In the first reading from the Prophet Ezekiel we hear about virtues and wickedness and how we can turn from one to the other so quickly . We have a choice. Each one of our actions words and thoughts leads to life or death.

Queen Esther prostrates herself with her handmaids from morning until evening with ashes in sackcloth asking for God’s help. How do you ask for help from the Lord? Do you give thanks to the Lord with all your heart as you worship and petition? It is important to remember that the Lord answers we call for help. This is Psalm 38. Do you remember how God has helped in our lives and moved obstacles with the grace He provides?. In the gospel reading of Matthew Jesus tells us that if we ask it will be given, if we seek we will find. Let us petition fervently to the Lord.