Resources, Prayers, Games, and Lesson Plans
More Thoughts and Reflection Questions
Mass Readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
- First Reading – Sirach 15:15-20: “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 119: “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!”
- Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10: “Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
- Gospel – Matthew 5:17-37: “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”
Themes for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
The readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time focus on the law and commandments. The first reading tells us to choose life by obeying God’s commandments. The second reading reminds us that God’s wisdom is far greater than our own. And in the gospel Jesus tells us he has come to fulfill the law, not to abolish it.
- Ten Commandments
- Magisterium
- Morality
- The fulfillment of the law
- The heart of the law
- Truthfulness
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.
Resources for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Ten Commandments Activity
This simple Ten Commandments activity will help children who already have some knowledge of the Ten Commandments learn how to order them correctly.
What Is “Moral Law”?
The Catholic Church teaches that moral law comes from God as “fatherly instructions” to help us determine what is right and what is wrong.
Printable Ten Commandments Cryptogram
Today’s activity from Young Catholics is a printable puzzle of the Ten Commandments. A key is also provided, in case you are not an expert in cryptography. 🙂
Ten Commandments Dice Game
This activity is a game to learn the Ten Commandments. Making learning into a game is more engaging for children than just telling them to memorize.
Homilies and Reflections for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Be a Saint!
A homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A from Bishop Robert Barron. “Friends, we have the privilege of continuing to read from the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus himself lays out his basic teaching. What we find today is Jesus as the new Moses. Like Moses, he goes up on a mountain, and he receives and then gives a new, intensified Law. Jesus wants the corrective power of the Law to go beyond merely the behavioral level and to get down to the level of the heart. We are not called to spiritual mediocrity; we are called to be saints!”
Looking In Our Hearts
Jeff Cavins reflects on the readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. Last week we looked at what we do, the outside. Today we look at what is on the inside, in our hearts.
Choosing the Way of Love
Another homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A from Bishop Robert Barron. “What a privilege we have in this week’s readings to hear from the book of Sirach, composed by an ancient sage who was deeply immersed in the Torah, the law, and the rituals of the Temple. As such, he delivers one of the deepest truths of the spiritual life: God so respects our freedom, that he will allow us to experience life or death, good or evil. He will give us what we choose and, more to it, we will become what we choose. Each day, every moment, choose the path of love, and you will become the kind of person fit to live in heaven. “
Affair of the Heart
A reflection for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A from Scott Hahn. “His Gospel reveals the deeper meaning and purpose of the Ten Commandments and the moral Law of the Old Testament. But His Gospel also transcends the Law. He demands a morality far greater than that accomplished by the most pious of Jews, the scribes and Pharisees.” Continue reading.
Yes, And
From Fr. Richard Rohr of the Center for Action and Contemplation. “Jesus told his Jewish followers to be faithful to their own tradition. He did this by strongly distinguishing between essentials and non-essentials, and then pushed it even further. The only absolute essential is union with God. We see this creative tension throughout Matthew’s Gospel, but perhaps no place more clearly than in the Sermon on the Mount…” Continue reading.
Why Follow the Rules When You Can Follow Your Heart?
From Nicholas LaBanca at Ascension Press. “In a world that has made the word ‘freedom’ synonymous with ‘I can do whatever I want as long as I’m not hurting anyone’, the question of why we need rules in society, and why we should keep them, often comes up in daily life. And that question comes up even more when it pertains to religion. We are frequently exhorted today to ‘break the rules’ and to ‘find our own path’ as well as to ‘follow our hearts’ in all matters.” Continue reading.
More Thoughts for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Matthew 5:17-37 – Laws on the Mountain
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus goes up a mountain, just as Moses did to receive the law. Jesus covers many of the same topics as the Ten Commandments, such as murder and adultery. But Jesus interprets the law. He does not dismiss it, but he shows its deeper meaning.
Jesus begins this gospel for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A by saying that he did not come to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfill them. This statement is important because it reminds us that Jesus did not come to replace the Old Testament law but to complete it. As Catholics, we believe that the Old Testament and the New Testament are part of the same story of God’s relationship with his people. Jesus came to fulfill the promises of the Old Testament and to bring about the kingdom of God.
Not Just Rule Followers
Jesus then goes on to speak about righteousness and the importance of following the law. He tells his followers that they must have a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. This is a reminder to us that our faith should not just be about following rules but about living a life of love and service to others.
Jesus then speaks about several topics related to the law, including murder, adultery, divorce, and oaths. In each case, he emphasizes the importance of not just following the letter of the law but also the spirit of the law. For example, Jesus tells us that it is not just enough to avoid committing murder but we must also avoid anger and hatred towards others.
Justice and Love
As Catholics, we believe that following the law is important, but it is not a way to “earn” our salvation. We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
However, our faith should lead us to live a life of righteousness and love, following the teachings of Jesus and striving to live as he did. We should live lives focused on justice, following the spirit of the law, and seeking to fulfill the promises of the Old Testament by bringing about the kingdom of God.
In order to draw closer to God, we must go beyond the minimum requirements of the law. We need to understand the purpose of the law, which is justice and love.
Reflection Questions for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
- What can I do to understand the true purpose of the rules before me?
- How do I respond when I think a law is unjust?
- Where do I need to seek the deeper meaning of what God is asking of me?
Quotes and Social Media Graphics for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.
Matthew 5:17-18
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Mass readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A?
First Reading – Sirach 15:15-20
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 119
Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Gospel – Matthew 5:17-37: “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”
See the readings section of this page for a longer summary of these readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A and links to the readings.
What Are the themes for the Mass readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A?
Ten Commandments
Magisterium
Morality
The fulfillment of the law
The heart of the law
Truthfulness
Going beyond the bare minimum
See the themes section of this page for an expansion on these themes for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. A reflection, prayer, and homily links are also available.
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